MacRumors Giveaway: Win a Ztylus Limited Edition Camera Kit for iPhone 6/6 Plus

For our next giveaway, we've partnered with Ztylus, a maker of smartphone cases with interchangeable accessory attachments. Ztylus is graciously offering one limited edition Rose Gold Camera Kit for the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus that retails for $149.95.

 

The Ztylus Rose Gold Camera Kit consists of a full-coverage case and a 4-in-1 lens attachment. The case itself has a textured leather finish that features an integrated kickstand and a unique disc mount system for the lens attachment. The lens attachment contains a circular polarizer lens and fish eye, macro, and wide angle lenses that flip out into position over the iPhone's camera lens. Ztylus makes its attachments compatible with all of its other cases so that when you switch to a new phone, you only need a new case and can keep using the same attachments.

To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter your email address. Your email address will not be given to any third party and will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page. Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older are eligible to enter. 

This contest will run from today (May 29) at 12:00 pm Pacific time through 12:00 pm Pacific time on June 5. The winner will be chosen randomly on June 5 and will be contacted by email. The winner has 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address. The prize will be shipped to the winner for free.

Ztylus is also offering a coupon code to MacRumors readers that will take 25% off all purchases from the company's online store. Use code RUMORS25 at checkout at Ztylus to take advantage of this generous offer.

This week in accessories: Amazing Case for the iPhone 6 from PureGear and more

Friday is here once again, so that means it’s time to look at some of the newest accessories to hit the market. In today’s edition, we’re featuring a fun iPhone 6 case, a colorful Lightning cable, and other new companions for your iPhone or iPad.

FlatOut LED Charging Cable from Beelike

 

A 3-foot Lightning cable to charge your iPad or iPhone, the FlatOut is highlighted with a built-in LED light. It pulses red when charging and solid blue when the device has reached full capacity. Scosche also offers a three-year warranty for the cable.
You can select from a black, pink, blue, or white version of the cable. It can be purchased from Beelike’s site for $3.15.

Generic 1M Fabric Braided 8 Pin USB Data Sync... $2.51 Save: 71% off

Generic 1M TPE 8 Pin Light USB Data Charger C... $3.15 Save: 66% off

Generic 1M TPE 8 Pin USB Data Charger Cord Li... $3.15 Save: 66% off

Generic 1M TPE 8 Pin USB Data Charger Cord Li... $3.15 Save: 66% off

Elite 6 Pro Battery Case for the iPhone 6 Plus from PhoneSuit

A slim battery case for the larger iPhone 6 Plus, a 4,200 mAH cell can provide up to 120 percent extra power. The battery can fully charge your iPhone in less than two hours. A low profile and raised front edge helps protect the handset’s screen from drops and scratches. A capacitive touch button can be used to check the case’s battery level along with starting or stopping to charge the iPhone.
Retailing from Beelike $9.95, the case is available in a black or blue metallic color.

Pulse Earbuds from Soul Electronics

Soul’s new Pulse earbuds are a perfect companion for your next run or workout. Weighing only 0.6oz, a reversed fitting ear lock cable wraps around the ear and locks tightly into place. They also resist water and sweat. Along with a tangle-free cable, a one-button control allows users to answer calls or control music playback.
You can snag the earphones from the company’s site or Beelike.com for $3.27. The earbuds are available in red or blue.

Bluelounge Portiko

The Portiko is a 6-foot extension cord that can create a charging hub for all of your devices. Along with two 110-volt power outlets, it also features two USB plugs. One of those can charge an iOS device at full speed. An optional self-adhesive metal plate allows the Portiko to be mounted on a wall or desk.It costs $24.95 from Bluelounge’s site now. You can select from a white or blue version.

iPhone 6 vs Samsung Galaxy S6 Which is better for gaming?

With the advent of next-generation smartphones, playing on mobile is becoming one of the most common activities among smartphone users. So much so, that official app stores there are thousands of games available for download because of the high demand for them.
Well, today from GameBech just published the first objective comparison of the four high-end smartphones of the moment, like the iPhone 6, Samsung Galaxy S6, HTC One M9, Nexus 6 and Motorola are through their own tool, It measures the performance and stability of the device to the most powerful games and the result has determined that iPhone 6 is the best smartphone to enjoy these games.
The study was conducted based on ten high-end games that are sphalt 8: Airborne, Real Racing 3, Dead Trigger 2, Kill Shot, Modern Combat 5: Blackout, Boom Beach, XCOM Enemy Territory, GTA San Andreas, Marvel: Contest of Champions and Monument Valley.
GameBench tool is able to measure in each game frames per second when playing reproduced without the latter being interrupted by other activities. According to the graph below where the average fps and stability, which is the percentage of time that can be played with the average rate of fps, four mobile obtained different results were compared, with the iPhone 6 Apple which has been most successful, followed by Samsung Galaxy S6 and finally the HTC One M9, Nexus 6 and Motorola obtained similar results.

Thus, one can say that the iPhone 6 is the device with the average rate higher fps, namely 40 fps, which has also been able to maintain a minimum average of 30 fps and remains at 92% in the analysis stability.
The truth is that with every game the behavior of each model evaluated smartphone behaves differently, even the Samsung Galaxy S6 and HTC One M9 are able to achieve better results than the iPhone 6 when run certain games, but average in the study for those ten titles, it has been the Apple device that has been done with the first position of this particular ranking.
I must say that the differences in the outcome of these terminals can affect several factors, one of them could be the resolution at which the screen Galaxy S6 playing games as it is higher than the rest, or the development of the game itself as it can be optimized for a particular platform and not others.

Apple Pay Might Be Coming To Europe Sooner Than You Think –– Here's EVERYTHING You Need To Know

Apple Pay wants to completely revolutionise how we pay for stuff. Here is everything you need to know about Apple Pay on the iPhone 6

Apple Pay is Apple's mobile payments solution introduced in October 2014. It allows you to use your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus or Apple Watch to make payments at NFC-equipped terminals in the United States. Right now well over 700,000 retail locations in the US accept Apple Pay including McDonalds, Bloomingdale’s, Subway, Petco, Staples, Macy’s, Walgreens, Sports Authority, and more. New retailer are singing up all the time too, with retail heavyweights like Best Buy and Urban Outfitters coming soon.

  Apple Pay can also be used on the iPad, in addition to the previous devices, to make payments directly inside Apple Pay-compatible apps. Apple that support Apple Pay payments include Airbnb, Groupon, Starbucks, Uber, Target, Ticketmaster, and dozens more as well.
Using Apple Pay is as simple as tapping your iPhone to an NFC terminal and touching your Touch ID or opening an Apple Pay-compatible app and Touching the Touch ID at checkout. But as you may have noticed the only caveat with Apple Pay is that you have to be based in the US–for now (more on that below). But if you are, you can use Apple Pay wherever you see this symbol:

Back in January Apple CEO Tim Cook shared some figures on Apple Pay during the company’s fiscal Q1 2015 earnings call. Cook revealed that around $2 out of every $3 spent using contactless payments across Visa, Mastercard, and American Express were being made with Apple Pay.
Mobile payments have been around for eons, but many experts believe it will take something like Apple Pay to make them truly mainstream. Google Wallet, for instance, has been around for a good long while now but has yet to become anything remotely close to a mainstream consumer product. Apple Pay, on the other hand, is fast becoming a buzzword for both consumers and retailers alike in the US (and it managed to do that in just under a month after its launch).
“Whole Foods,” reports The New York Times, “the high-end grocery chain, said it had processed more than 150,000 Apple Pay transactions. McDonald’s, which accepts Apple Pay at its 14,000 restaurants in the United States, said Apple Pay accounted for 50 percent of its tap-to-pay transactions. And Walgreens, the nationwide chain of drugstores, said its mobile wallet payments had doubled since Apple Pay came out.”
Tim Cook confirmed a wide breadth of partners using the payment service from fast food restaurants like McDonald’s and supermarkets like Whole Foods to the federal government which has deployed Apple Pay kiosks in national parks all over the US. More recently, Coke Cola has been rolling out Apple Pay on its vending machines, meaning punters can pay for a can of Coke simply by tapping their iPhone 6/6 Plus on the machine.

Apple has also expanded the number of banks it’s working with; its grown from just six at launch to over 300 participating issuers nationwide. Currently those issuers need to offer Visa, Mastercard, or American Express credit or debit cards, but recently Discover has announced it will be supporting Apple Pay this fall:
“As the mobile payments landscape matures, Discover remains committed to giving cardmembers secure options for using their cards and mobile devices,” said Diane Offereins, Discover’s president of payment services. “Discover’s focus on simplicity and value for our cardmembers aligns well with the way Apple Pay makes purchases easy and convenient.” 

In order to compete with Apple and PayPal in the mobile payments space, Samsung had to spend quite a bit of cash –– $250 million to be precise. Samsung acquired Massachusetts-based startup LoopPay last year and used its latent technology to power its Apple Pay alternative, Samsung Pay, which launches later on in 2015. 
“LoopPay invented a technology that originally allowed shoppers to pay for purchases in stores by placing a special piece of hardware — such as a fob or a smartphone case — near where you would normally swipe a credit card. With the acquisition, Samsung is embedding the LoopPay technology into its new phones, so shoppers can tap and pay with a new Samsung Galaxy 6 rather than whipping out a credit card or cash,” reports re/code. 
LoopPay’s technology mimics a card swipe, meaning it’ll work in just about any shop you can currently pay with a credit or debit card. This is a very different to how Apple and Google’s respective systems works, as both of which require an significant update to the check-out system. 

Apple Pay In The Rest Of The World

Apple Pay was rumored to launch in China with the release of iOS 8.3 earlier this yeat, but its launch has been delayed. Negations stalled after multiple Chinese banks and the state-owned card processor UnionPay were not happy with Apple’s proposed slice of the traction fee associated with credit/debit payments. Apple, says the sources, wanted 0.15% of the 2% charges levied on credit/debit payments in the region.
“A UnionPay employee who declined to be named said the company has not reached any agreements with the U.S. tech company,” reports 9to5Mac, “and no timetable for cooperation has been set. Those sources also say Apple has not made any breakthroughs in talks with Chinese banks, which would also have to agree for the Apple Pay system to work.”
And it’s not just Chinese banks that are unhappy about giving over a slice of the pie to Apple. UK banks too are said to be uneasy about giving away such a large percentage of their profits to Apple, a company with a market cap in the hundreds of billions. Apple Pay was meant to be rolling out here during the second half of 2015, but disputes over how much Apple is entitled too could lead to the service being delayed for months –– if not until 2016.

Good News For Europe, Though!

"Apple Pay may be making its way to Belgium following WWDC, KBC Bank indicated on Twitter today," notes 9to5Mac. "The bank recently added NFC support to its payment cards, prompting a customer to ask if the institution would ever add support for Apple Pay. The bank replied that the service would be available starting this summer, indicating a possible announcement at WWDC. Other countries and financial institutions worldwide are likely to gain support as well around that time."
Things are a little better for Apple Pay if you are in Canada. As the Wall Street Journal reports, Apple Pay is set to roll out there in November if the current talks with the Royal Bank of Canada, TD Canada Trust, Scotiabank, Bank of Montreal, CIBC and National Bank of Canada. Though the WSJ does note that those banks have their apprehensions too:
"The banks are open to an agreement, but they aren’t happy with Apple’s fee proposals and are concerned about security vulnerabilities like the ones that U.S. banks experienced as they rolled out the service, the people said."

Still... The Feedback In The US Has Been Excellent

Besides the apprehension from international banks, the rollout of Apple Pay has been good to date. More than one million Chase Bank customers have registered their cards for use with Apple Pay. The news was confirmed during an investor’s call as part of JP Morgan Chase’s 2015 Investor Day.
"We were an early participant of Apple Pay," said Eileen Serra, CEO of Chase Card Services. "We do continue to see good growth in the number of consumers that are provisioning Chase cards in their Apple Pay wallet.”
"We've been excited about the feedback we've gotten in terms of the great customer experience," Serra said. "As more merchants adopt, I would expect to see more traction here, as well."
Serra said Chase customers who use Apple Pay tend to be younger with higher incomes, reports Apple Insider, which is to be expected considering the platform relies on iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus for touchless payments. Since Apple Pay's launch, 69 percent of Chase card transactions were credit based, while debit made up the remaining 31 percent of purchases.

What Do I Need To Use Apple Pay?

To use Apple Pay in stores you need an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus running iOS 8.1 or higher. You can also use Apple Pay on your brand new Apple Watch. You’ll also need a US iTunes account and at least one US credit or debit card. To use Apple Pay to make an in app or web-based purchases you’ll need an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2, or iPad mini 3 running iOS 8.1 or higher as well as a US iTunes account and at least one US credit or debit card.

How Does Apple Pay Work?

For in store use it uses the NFC chip inside the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus and the Touch ID on these two devices. When you want to purchase something at a participating retailer you simply hold your iPhone over the NFC terminal at the register and tap the Touch ID.
For app and web-based purchases Apple Pay does not require an NFC chip, only the Touch ID, which is why transactions can be completed on the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3. To use Apple Pay for making in-app purchases, tap the Apple Pay button in the app and then place your finger on the Touch ID on your iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2, or iPad mini 3.

How Do I Add A Payment Method To Apple Pay?

In two ways: you can use the payment card you already have on file with your iTunes account or you can add separate credit and debit cards.

Setting Up Apple Pay With Your Existing Card On File With Your iTunes Account: 

It’s simple, but the procedure varies slightly depending on if you are setting it up on an iPhone 6 or iPad Air and iPad mini.

1. If you are using an iPhone 6, open the Passbook app. If you are using an iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 3 go to the Settings app and tap Passbook & Apple Pay.
2. On iPhone, if you don’t have any passes set up already tap “Set Up Apple Pay” on the placeholder card. If you do have passes in Passbook already, pull the passes down from the top of the screen until you see the + button in the upper right corner. If you’re on iPad in the Settings app all you need to do is tap “Add Credit or Debit Card”.
3. Next tap “Use Card on File with iTunes”.
4. You’ll be taken to a screen that asks you to enter the 3-digit security code from the back of the card. Do it then tap next.
5. On the next screen your bank will process the information and then give you options of verifying that you want to add the card. Options include calling a phone number or entering a code sent via email or text. Note that different banks may offer only some of these options and not all.
6. Once your card is verified, you’re done. It will appear at the top of Passbook on the iPhone and be listed in the Passbook & Apple Pay section of the Settings app in iPad.

Setting Up Apple Pay For Use With A New (Or Additional) Credit Or Debit Card: 

If you don’t want to connect your card on file with your iTunes account to your Apple Pay account you can choose to add a different card. As with adding an iTunes card account, the procedure is slightly different depending whether you’re doing this on an iPhone or iPad.

1. If you are using an iPhone 6, open the Passbook app. If you are using an iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 3 go to the Settings app and tap Passbook & Apple Pay.
2. On iPhone, if you don’t have any passes set up already tap “Set Up Apple Pay” on the placeholder card. If you do have passes in Passbook already, pull the passes down from the top of the screen until you see the + button in the upper right corner. If you’re on iPad in the Settings app all you need to do is tap “Add Credit or Debit Card”.
3. Next tap “Use a Different Credit or Debit Card”.
4. You’ll be taken to the card details screen where you have two ways of entering your card information. You can choose to type in the card name and number manually, or you can choose to let your iPhone or iPad grab your information from the card by taking a picture of it. To do this, tap the blue camera icon.
5. On the card image capture screen position your credit card within the white frame outline. Your iOS device’s camera will autofocus for a few seconds and then you’ll see white text and numbers overlay the text and numbers on your credit or debit card when your iOS device has grabbed the information from it (it does this by using simple optical character recognition software).
6. You’ll be taken to a screen that asks you to enter the 3-digit security code from the back of the card. Do it then tap next.
7. On the next screen your bank will process the information and then give you options of verifying that you want to add the card. Options include calling a phone number or entering a code sent via email or text. Note that different banks may offer only some of these options and not all.
8. Once your card is verified, you’re done. It will appear at the top of Passbook on the iPhone and be listed in the Passbook & Apple Pay section of the Settings app in iPad.

Apple’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus support Apple Pay, and while the service is not yet live in the UK, plenty of our US readers will no doubt already feel right at home paying for goods in store with just their your iPhone.

Apple Could Discontinue 16GB iPhone Models In The Future

With the introduction of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Apple did away with the 32GB model and introduced a 128GB model. This meant that users could only choose between 16GB models, 64GB models, and 128GB models. Now anyone who has ever used an iPhone knows that 16GB won’t get you very far, which is why it isn’t surprising that Apple might want to discontinue that model in the future as well.
This is according to a report from Trendforce (via G 4 Games) who revealed that there is a possibility that Apple might do away with the 16GB model for future iPhones. In its place it seems that Apple could be bringing back the 32GB model which will act as the entry-level model for would-be iPhone customers. It is unclear if the price will remain the same but either way we suppose this is good news for iPhone customers.
The report from Trendforce also claims that the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will feature 2GB of RAM. This is something that Apple’s competitors have been teasing the company about. As it stands Apple’s iPhones feature 1GB of RAM, versus its Android competitors where you have some models that go up to 4GB of RAM.
Trendforce is also claiming that we can look forward to Force Touch being introduced with the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, a rumor that we’ve heard about before, and also that the LED display will be made slightly thinner which should also result in an iPhone that could be thinner and lighter than before. Take it with a grain of salt for now, but so far it seems like the iPhone 6s/6s Plus is shaping up to be an exciting device.

iPhone 6S release date, price and specs rumours - rose gold model pictured

Apple finally gave into consumers wanting a real choice with the iPhone, giving us two new models in September 2014, the regular iPhone 6 and phablet iPhone 6 Plus. With Apple diversifying its product range for the first time ever, it's interesting to find out what the company is up to this year with the new models, the iPhone 6S and the iPhone 6 Plus. With Apple typically keeping the same design for a couple of generations, it seems likely that we'll get roughly what we've got now, but with some hardware and software improvements; for the big changes, we'll most likely have to wait until 2016 with the launch of the iPhone 7.
In this article, we're rounding up all of the most interesting rumours and are putting together a picture of what the new phones will look like. We'll put all of the new information at the top so that you don't have far to go to find out about the latest rumours.

What you need to know, quickly

What is it?	Apple's latest smartphone, and the update to the existing iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
When is it out?	If Apple sticks to its normal release schedule, and it tends to, then we should see it late September 2015
What's new?	Externally it will look like the iPhone 6/6 Plus, but we should see iOS 9, a faster processor (the A9) and, potentially a better camera, too

In detail

Analyst makes lots of predictions

One of the most vocal analysts is KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo, who has as good a record at predicting upcoming Apple products as anyone, has made the biggest set of predictions for the iPhone 6S yet. It's interesting to note that Kuo has started calling the phone the 6S again, after originally stating that the new smartphone could be so different that Apple might jump to the iPhone 7. Without further ado, here's what he's predicting and what we think.

• Force Touch is coming This makes perfect sense to us, as Apple has introduced this technology on the MacBook and both MacBook Pro with Retina Display models; rolling it out to the iPhone is just the next step, as we explore below
• Screen sizes will be 4.5in and 5.5in, and there will be no 4in model The first part of this statement is obvious, as the iPhone 6S won't make any big design changes from the 6, which means the screen sizes are fixed. As for the second part, there's been a lot of will they/won't they rumours about Apple releasing a smaller phone, which we go into in full later. In short, the jury's out on this one
• There will be an additional rose gold colour Apparently, this is to match the Apple Watch. As to whether or not it's a replacement or an addition to the existing gold model we don't know, but we can see Apple wanting to match colours across its mobile range
• The camera will be upgraded to 12-megapixels While not exactly high resolution by today's standards, this rumour at least fits in with what Apple's been doing in recent years: balancing noise and image quality, against resolution; a jump to 12-megapixels should keep noise down while improving resolution
• An extra microphone will improve voice quality Shocking, we know, but there are some people that like to make phone calls. This minor improvement is possible, as Apple added an additional microphone to the MacBook Air a couple of years ago
• No more bending Tougher construction and build materials will keep the phone from bending. We can see Apple constantly looking to improve build quality, so a few tweaks here and there to make it stronger seem likely
• Sapphire glass coming to the iPhone 6S Plus Well, to some of the models, with Kuo stating that there will be a limited number with sapphire. We think that it's unlikely that Apple will split its run in this way and either all models will have it or none
• TouchID will be improved Apple Pay has made Apple want to increase the recognition rate with Touch ID. This seems very likely, as the Touch ID sensor is something that Apple will constantly be looking to improve
• Gesture controls are coming You'll now be able to use gestures to interact with your phone, although it's not clear as to whether this means new sensors or just that iOS 9 will work with existing sensors

First leaked images of rose gold model are out

Ming-Chi Kuo was the first to come out and say that the iPhone 6S would come in a rose gold version, in order to match the Apple Watch. While we can understand that Apple would like to align the colours available between its mobile devices, until now we couldn't quite picture what a rose gold iPhone would look like in the flesh. Well, we have to wonder no more, as 9to5mac has been sent the first set of leaked images. As you can see from the image, the photos also show that the phone has dual rear cameras, which seems to fulfill previous rumours.
Obviously, editing images of an iPhone 6 to turn it rose gold and adding an extra camera lens isn't a very difficult job, and we can't guarantee the authenticity of these shots. However, they at least give a better idea of how the colour would work in the flesh. From what we've seen, we like it and hope that Apple goes with this colour.

We could get a plastic iPhone 6C

it's the 'will they, won't they' saga of whether Apple will decide to launch a plastic iPhone 6C alongside the premium iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. This rumour has been doing the rounds for a while, but it's now starting to gather some proper momentum. In a way, a plastic iPhone 6C makes a lot of sense. When the iPhone 6 models launched, Apple had the iPhone 5S as the cheaper, smaller handset. When the new 'S' models come out later this year, the 5S will be two years old and a little long-in-the-tooth. While it can still sell the original iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, there'll be a hole where the iPhone 5S once stood, which Apple may plug with the 6C.
According to DigiTimes, which isn't always particularly accurate with its rumours, Apple will launch three models later this year. All will use NFC and have Touch ID, but the 6C will use the existing A8 chip while the high-end models will use the new A9. Apparently, the iPhone 6C will have a 4in display and a polycarbonate plastic case, similar to that of the iPhone 5C's.
In fact, we've already got a leaked shot that purportedly shows the new iPhone 6C's case, comparing it to the iPhone 5C. As you can see in the shot below, originally displayed on FutureSupplier, the 6C appears to have an oval-shaped hole for the flash, rather than the 5C's round flash. Secondly, the site has reported that the 6C has different holes in the bottom for the speakers. Call us cynical, but these shots could easily have been edited and they're far from proof. Still, we do believe that Apple may want a third phone for the entry-level market, and a plastic model makes sense in many ways.

iOS 9 incoming

Apple likes to release a new version of its mobile operating system, iOS, every year alongside new hardware. Given that we had iOS 8 last year with the new iPhones, it stands to reason that this year we'll have iOS 9. So, what can we expect? We go into more detail in our full iOS 9 rumours piece, but the word is: not much.
It seems that this time around, Apple is mostly focussing on making the operating system more stable, rather than adding in a raft of new features. That makes a lot of sense, as many people have felt that iOS has become less stable over time. Instead, the only new features we're likely to get are those that support new hardware. Fortunately, we don't have too long to wait to find out, as Apple will most likely unveil a beta version of iOS 9 at its WWDC conference on the 8th June 2015.

Force Touch may come to the phone, but only the Plus

We've had rumours, first mentioned by the Wall Street Journal, that the new iPhone 6S will have a Force Touch sensor since the technology was introduced with the new MacBook. Force Touch technology can sense the difference between a light tap and a hard push, performing different actions. For example, a Force Touch on a highlighted word can bring up the Wikipedia entry for it.
Although the iPhone already recognises the difference between a short and a long press, adding Force Touch brings in yet another way to interact with the phone. It could be useful, for example, in games, with a Force Touch in FIFA performing a long pass. It's likely that Apple would also make changes to iOS in order to recognise the new type of input, most likely inside iOS 9, which will launch this year.
While we initially thought that Force Touch would come with both the iPhone 6S and the iPhone 6S Plus, recent information has cast doubt on this, and it may only come with the larger Plus model. According to GforGames a report mentioning TPK, the Force Touch manufacturer, only mentions the iPhone 6S Plus, not the regular model. That's an interesting distinction and the fact that the larger Plus model is specifically mentioned, rather than a more generic 'iPhone 6S', seems to suggest that the sensor is only coming to the Phablet.
Why is that? For starters, the sensor for an iPhone is more expensive than on an Apple Watch or Mac Trackpad, so Apple may want to only include this in its most expensive handset. Secondly, Apple may want to distinguish its two phones a bit more, giving the Plus another feature in addition to the optical image stabilisation (OIS) that it has and the regular iPhone doesn't. Finally, it may even come down to a question of size, with the iPhone 6S Plus' body physically giving more room to squeeze in the required sensors, while the iPhone 6S may not be designed for it. We'd imagine that this would change with the new design of the iPhone 7, but as that's not launching until 2016, we've got a bit of a wait.

Will the iPhone 6S be the iPhone 7?

This is one rumour that simply refuses to go away: Apple may not have an iPhone 6S, but may instead jump straight to the iPhone 7 instead. The latest rumour on this front comes from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, and reported by MacRumors, who believes that the inclusion of Force Touch on the new phone is such a big change that Apple will skip straight to iPhone 7.
Apparently, a capacitive Force Touch sensor will be installed under the phone screen's backlight, and this is enough for Apple to make a complete name change. We really don't think that this is the case. After all, with the iPhone 5S Apple introduced Touch ID and went 64-bit: these huge changes weren't enough for the company to jump straight to iPhone 6, and Force Touch isn't even in that league. We firmly believe that Force Touch will make an appearance (more on that later in this article), but we definitely don't believe that this alone is enough to make Apple drop a model number.
That's not to say that Apple won't go for iPhone 7 instead of the iPhone 6S; however, if it does, the most likely reason will be because the company has decided that the 'S' range of phones is a bit confusing and clear model numbers make more sense.
Besides, doing this would completely change how Apple has approached its iPhone line and we're not convinced that it's ready to do that. Apple typically launches one new product with a brand-new design, which has a brand-new number: the iPhone 4, iPhone 5 and iPhone 6 are all clear examples of this. The following year, Apple takes the same case (perhaps with some tweaks), makes some internal changes and launches a follow up with an 'S' suffix: the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 5S are all clear examples of this.
Yet, every year, we have to go through the usual set of rumours suggesting that Apple will skip the S version and move straight to the next number. When the iPhone 4S launched, everyone was disappointed that it wasn't the iPhone 5; when the iPhone 5S launched, everyone was disappointed that it wasn't the iPhone 6. Obviously, we've got rumours that the next phone will be the iPhone 7.
Based on past form, we'd have to say that is complete nonsense and we refuse to believe these rumours until there's some hard proof. Until then, this article cover the iPhone 6S, which will launch this year, for bigger changes, we're most likely going to have to wait until 2015 for the launch of the next phone, which we cover in our iPhone 7 rumours article.

Apple iPhone 6 All It Is Cracked Up to Be?

Those who have not purchased the new Apple iPhone 6 may be resisting while they are wondering if it is all it is cracked up to be. According to analysts, it is as good as the hype, as the sales of the iPhone 6 do not seem to be slowing down, as users are finding that they enjoy the newest Apple product. Sources state that the newest iPhone is even bigger than expected, in terms of popularity (even though the phone is actually bigger literally, as well). However, part of these larger numbers could also be due to the release of the product in China, where it performed so well that it out-performed sales in Europe. As Apple enjoys the increased profit from their second quarter sales, which only continues to keep with that trend, analysts are weighing in on why they believe the phone has had more sales so far, than those that have come before it.
According to Tech Radar, an iPhone 6 is sold every ten seconds. From the time the product was released it has been a great seller, bringing Apple large sums of money in each quarter. Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty states that those large sums of money will only continue, as expected numbers for delivery and sales of the newest iPhone continue to rise. Huberty has changed her estimates to larger numbers already for the next quarter. Many analysts are calling the newest iPhone the best version yet, claiming it well over-shadows its former relatives. However, with a price that is still a bit high, many are reluctant to take the leap from previous versions to the newest one.
But all sources and many consumers agree that aside from price the Apple iPhone 6 is all it is cracked up to be. But speaking of cracked up, the phone does still have its usual problems like a screen that cracks rather easy when it incurs pressure, a low resolution screen (at least lower than other products), and a more recent dislike of size. Though many find the size appealing, reviewers have actually used it as a reason not to buy because it “does not fit well in your pocket.” Other reviewers have marveled about the size, calling the iPhone 6 the “mini, mini iPad.”
Nevertheless, sales of the product are at a high and stocks are also rising, due to this. One major reason that the iPhone 6 sales are doing so well, recently, is because the company teamed up in China to sale the product and it was a bit hit in the country. Some of the new features could also be behind the increased sales, as Apple lists that the iPhone 6 has a Retina HD Display, a thinner size, an increased battery life, an enhanced camera lens, and much more, so that users will find that the product is all that it is cracked up to be.
As the iPhone 5s/5c came out not too long ago, some users are still paying off the previous version. Though most do not wait long after a new product comes out to jump at the chance to own one, Apple’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will most likely still be selling for a long time to come, probably until the iPhone 7 comes out. Users who have already bought their new iPhones can thoroughly enjoy all that the product has to offer and users who are looking forward to being able to buy one in the future will be able to form their own opinions of the phone. Analysts are still in strong belief that the iPhone 6 is Apple’s greatest version so far, and one that will continue to bring in huge profits.
By Crystal Boulware
Sources:
The Street: Apple’s iPhone 6 Is More Dominant Than Anyone Thought
Wired: The iPhone Is Now Bigger in China Than in Europe
Tech Radar: iPhone 6 Review
Apple: iPhone 6

Apple has finally launched an iPhone 6 dock

If you’ve been eagerly awaiting an official iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus dock your prayers have been answered, as Apple has just unleashed one.

It’s the same dock for both phones, in fact it works with any iPhone that features the Lightning connector, which means you can use it with the iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus and it also works with the iPod Touch 5^th generation.

We can’t imagine many people who particularly wanted a dock for their phone haven’t already bought a third party one, but this will be handy if you have been holding out or for any new iPhone 6 buyers.

Then again it is £35, which seems pretty expensive to us, but it will presumably have been built to a high standard.

The dock can be used to both charge and sync your iPhone and it’s designed to work even if your phone is in an Apple-designed case. You can also unlock your phone and use Touch ID without removing it from the dock and you can use your iPhone for speakerphone calls with it docked.

If you want to listen to music or podcasts while it’s docked that’s not a problem either, as it features an audio line-out port which connects to powered speakers as well as supporting headphones that include a remote control.

The Lightning Dock itself takes the form of a small white rectangle. Simple then, but not unattractive and it’s available now from the Apple Store.

Samsung Galaxy S 5 4G Cell Phone Charcoal Black

Quad-core 2.5GHz speed processor with 2GB of RAM

Delivers outstanding overall performance for opening and running applications, flipping through menus, running home screens and more.

Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS

This operating system optimizes memory and improves touch-screen response, so you can do more faster. Just say "Ok Google" to launch voice search, send a text, get directions or even play a song.

4G LTE speed

Provides fast Web connection for downloading apps, streaming content and staying connected with social media.

5.1" Super AMOLED HD touch screen

High-definition touch screen displays texts, e-mails, games, photos and videos with clarity.

16.0MP rear-facing camera

Auto Focus snaps clearer action shots, and Selective Focus lets you focus on what's important by blurring the background and accentuating the main subject in defined detail. Also includes 2.0MP front-facing camera.

16GB internal memory plus microSD slot

Provides plenty of storage space for your contacts, music, apps and more. Expand storage up to 128GB by adding a microSD card (sold separately).

Heart rate sensor lets you measure your heart rate through your fingertip

Plus, monitor your health with the custom services offered by S Health. Log and check your exercise, food intake and heart rate in real time.

A rugged build for outdoor use

An IP67 certification means this phone is dustproof and can be submerged in up to a meter of water for up to 30 minutes. Plus, you can still use touch screen features while wearing gloves.

Ultra Power Saving mode lets you keep your phone powered on for longer in between charges

This mode changes your screen to black and white and shuts down all unnecessary features to dramatically minimize battery consumption.

Your fingerprint keeps your phone secure

Swipe your finger on the touch screen to unlock your phone. You can also make faster, more secure payments via PayPal with the tip of your finger.

Phone activation required before use. Carrier activation fees may apply.

Requires a minimum data service starting at $20/month.

Early termination fees will be prorated, starting at $325 minus $10 for each full month of service commitment completed.

Android Phone

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Washington state will require a warrant for Stingray cell-phone tracking

On Monday, Washington state passed a new law requiring police to get a warrant before they use cell-site simulator tracking devices, known commonly as Stingrays. The devices have been widely deployed by law enforcement groups throughout the country but kept largely secret thanks to non-disclosure agreements and parallel construction techniques. The new Washington state law will be one of the most aggressive anti-tracking measures in the nation, although Virginia and Minnesota have adopted similar measures. It will also have an immediate effect on the Tacoma Police Department, which has been using a Stingray device in 2008.
According to The News Tribune of Tacoma, Washington, portions of Washington's new law were written by Daniel Rigmaiden, who was apprehended by the FBI in 2008 through the use of a Stingray device and has become an active advocate against the devices in the years since. Stingray devices work by impersonating a 2G cell phone tower, which can connect to phones without authentication. From there, the devices can pull location and basic identification data, and potentially even calls and text messages. They've been widely adopted by both federal agencies and local police departments alike. Baltimore police have used Stingray devices more than 4,000 times, according to court testimony, and the US Marshals service uses the same interceptors in low-flying planes to locate fugitives.
Federal agencies have recently attempted to scale back the secrecy surrounding Stingrays, but they remain largely undisclosed. Earlier this month, the Justice Department began a full review of how the devices are being used by law enforcement, which may result in further disclosures later in the year.

Test Scores Rise After Cell Phones Banned From Schools

Impact of cell phone ban "equivalent to an additional hour a week in school," study found

Exam scores climbed by as much as 6% in schools that imposed strict bans on cell phones, according to a new study that cautions policymakers to keep strict cell phone policies in the classroom.
Researchers at the University of Texas and Louisiana State University surveyed cell phone policies across schools in four English cities since 2001, studying how exam scores changed before and after the bans were enacted.
“We found the impact of banning phones for these students equivalent to an additional hour a week in school, or to increasing the school year by five days,” the study’s authors wrote on the academic blog, The Conversation.
The authors noted the strongest gains occurred among underachieving and disadvantaged students, while they observed almost no measurable impact on the highest scoring students. “Allowing phones into schools would harm the lowest achieving and low income students the most,” the authors conclude.

Moto E (1st Gen) gets Android 5.1 Lollipop update via AOSP custom ROM

Moto E (2014) can be now upgraded to the latest Android Lollipop software version through a custom build of AOSP ROM. It is considered as pure as the stock AOSP version, without much modification, while delivering faster performance as compared to other custom firmware.
Most of the features work fine in the custom release expect RIL on dual SIM devices. According to XDA forum members, the ROM works fine on single SIM Moto E models and can be used as a daily driver.
Follow the step-by-step installation guide if you want to upgrade your Moto G to AOSP ROM to get Android 5.1 Lollipop.
ROM info

• ROM OS Version: 5.1.x Lollipop
• ROM Kernel: Linux 3.4.x
• ROM firmware required: Unlocked bootloader and custom recovery
• Based on: AOSP
• Status: Testing
• Created: 18 April

 Key notes

• Create a backup of all your important data as this process might wipe out everything. You can do so by using any custom recovery on your Android device.
• Enable USB Debugging Mode on the phone to connect it with the computer and use Android SDK with it. [Go to Settings>> About phone. Scroll down to Build number, Tap seven times on the build number. The Developer options under Settings should appear now. You can now enable USB debugging mode.]
• The Moto E should have above 80% battery charge as due to battery drain, the phone might shut off during the process, which in turn could damage the device.
• It should be rooted with the latest version of recovery installed.
• The AOSP ROM used in this guide is compatible with Moto E 2014 model only. Applying this on any incorrect variant might brick the device. Verify the model number of the smartphone by navigating to Settings>> About phone>> Model number and install firmware based on the mode number of the device.
• All the features might not be functioning properly since the ROM is still going through development.
• After the ROM is installed, leave the device for at least 10 minutes, before using it, for a better user experience.
• IBTimes UK will not be held liable for any damage to the device.

Download AOSP ROM 
How to update Moto E to AOSP Android 5.1 Lollipop ROM (CWM recovery)
Step 1: Connect the phone to the computer using the USB cable. Without extracting move the downloaded files to the internal storage of the phone. Keep the files in the SD card root folder, not inside any other folder
Step 2: Unplug the USB cable from the phone and switch it off
Step 3: Place the phone into recovery mode. Press Volume Down, Volume Up and Power buttons together until the boot menu appears. Then navigate to recovery mode using Volume Down and select it pressing the Volume Up button
Note: Use Volume keys to scroll between options and Power button to select certain button.
Step 4: In the recovery menu, first perform a Nandroid backup of the existing ROM, which can be restored later if you do not like the new ROM. To perform a backup, select Backup and Restore, then on the next screen select Backup again
Step 5: Perform data wiping task. Select wipe data/factory reset then select Yes on the next screen confirming the action. Wait for a few minutes until the process is completed
Step 6: Return to recovery menu, then select wipe cache partition and then Wipe Dalvik Cache, which can be found under advanced menu
Step 7: Now flash the files. From the main recovery menu select install zip from sdcard>> choose zip from sdcard. Now locate the AOSP ROM, which you earlier copied to the internal storage of the phone. Select it and confirm installation
Step 8: When the installation process is completed, go back to the recovery menu and select reboot system now to boot the phone into AOSP ROM
How to update Moto E to AOSP Android 5.1 Lollipop ROM (TWRP recovery)
Step 1: Connect the phone to the computer using the USB cable. Without extracting move the downloaded files to the internal storage of the phone. Keep the files in the SD card root folder, not inside any other folder
Step 2: Unplug the USB cable from the phone and switch it off
Step 3: Place the phone into recovery mode. Press Volume Down, Volume Up and Power buttons together until the boot menu appears. Then navigate to recovery mode using Volume Down and select it pressing the Volume Up button
Step 4: In the recovery menu perform a Nandroid backup of the existing ROM using TWRP Backup option
Step 5: Perform Factory Reset. Keep in mind this step will wipe out all apps, their settings and game progress. Tap on Wipe then at the bottom of the screen do a swipe on Swipe to factory reset option
Step 6: Now flash the files. For this tap on Install, then browse to the location where you have saved the AOSP ROM file, select it
Step 7: Now at the bottom the screen, do a swipe on Swipe to confirm flash option
Step 8: When the installation process is completed, reboot the phone. Go to the recovery menu, tap on Reboot>> System. This will boot up the One Mini to the new CyanogenMod 12 nightly. Wait for some time until the process is completed and do not press any button.
Restoring previous ROM: If you do not like this new ROM, you can always choose to go back to the previous ROM. Boot your phone into recovery mode, select Backup then use the Restore option to get your previous firmware.
Head over to the XDA development thread to know more about the AOSP ROM, shared by forum member, percy_g2.

Original Moto X Android 5.1 update changelog now posted

There seems to be constant news about Android Lollipop updates reaching further devices and today it’s the turn of those who have the Motorola Moto X first-gen. Yesterday there were reports that the Android 5.1 Lollipop update was now in testing for the 2013 Moto X. Now further details have emerged as the original Moto X Android 5.1 update changelog has been posted.
The first-generation Moto X received the Android 5.0 Lollipop update starting last month while the Android 5.1 upgrade is already available for the Moto X 2nd gen. Now the rollout for Android 5.1 has begun in Brazil for the first Moto X as well, and if there are no major problems it is likely to start rolling out for further global regions soon. Following the arrival of 5.1 for the device in Brazil, Motorola has now posted the changelog in Portuguese.
There changelog includes Material Design and priorities of notifications, a new multitasking overview mode, Moto Assist features such as Moto smart screen, Moto Shares, and Moto Voice, battery settings changes, and Smart Lock that enables users to keep the phone unlocked in particular areas or when paired up with a smartwatch. The update is also likely to include plenty of bug fixes.
You can see the full changelog and update notes for Android 5.1 on the Moto X (1st Generation) at this Motorola page (Google translated). The company has been doing a pretty good job at pushing out Android updates to its devices in recent times, though there have been some delays particularly concerning the original Moto X.
Let’s hope it’s not too much longer until the Android 5.1 update starts rolling out to regions worldwide. Are you pleased to hear that this update is now appearing for the first-gen Moto X, at least for some users? Let us know with your comments.

Huawei P8 Challenges Galaxy S6 with Superslim Steel Design

LONDON -- How do you stand out in today's sea of smartphones? Huawei is betting on the premium design of the P8 to win over shoppers. Announced today (April 15), the Huawei P8 sports a fetching design made of steel and glass, and it's only 0.25 inches thin (thinner than the Galaxy S6). Other highlights include an octa-core CPU, 5.2-inch full HD screen and a new Super Night Mode for the 13-megpaixel camera.
The US variant of the Huawei P8 will arrive stateside in May, and retail unlocked for under 500 euros (about $529). Huawei also launched the huge 6.8-inch P8 Max phablet, which will be available globally next month. During my preview of the P8 (international version), I was charmed by its looks and intrigued by its potential.

Design

While the generic-looking, black rectangle didn't immediately wow at first, I was won over with a single touch. The steel unibody and glass construction feels solid and luxurious. With a barely-there profile of 0.25-inches and a 5.2-inch 1080p display, the P8 is minimalistically sexy. There is nothing on the front other than the 8-megapixel camera and a small 2 by 3 grid of sensors above the screen. The phone's also available in silver and gold.

The P8 is one of the slimmest smartphones around, beating the Samsung Galaxy S6 (0.27 inches), the iPhone 6 (0.27 inches) and the HTC One M9 (0.37 inches). I liked the small square power button on the right side, below the volume rocker, as it's easier to press and identify by touch than some competitors.

Specs

Inside, the P8 carries Huawei's own 2.0-GHz octa-core, 64-bit Kirin 930 CPU with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. A 2,600-mAh battery also sits under the hood. That's bigger than the Galaxy S6's 2,550-mAh one, which lasted 8 hours and 32 minutes. The P8, however, is smaller than the HTC One M9's (2,840 mAh), which lasted 7:14. The P8 supports NFC and Bluetooth 4.0.
During my time with the P8, the phone was mostly zippy when opening apps and sliding between home pages. It did struggle to keep up sometimes, pausing to return to the home screen from the camera app, for instance. I liked how bright and sharp the display was, and viewing angles were generous -- the image quality did not change as I tilted the phone from side to side.

Camera Improvements

The P8 carries the same 8-MP front and 13-MP rear camera setup as its predecessor (Huawei Ascend P7), but has a new Super Night mode to enhance low-light shooting. Huawei said the new mode is optimized to leave the shutter open for longer and reduce noise (grain) when activated. The P8 offers an Ultra Panorama mode that lets you shoot panoramic scenes not just horizontally but vertically as well, for a more rounded, almost 360-degree view. A cool new Light Painting mode (in low light) uses long exposure to let you capture the path of moving light, as if you were painting with a light source.
Aspiring filmmakers will appreciate the P8's cool new Director Mode, that lets you record, in real-time, video from four different smartphones. As long as one of the four is the Huawei P8, it doesn't matter what the other three are. After filming, you can immediately stitch together and edit the footage from the phone's app for a multi-cam video.

Software: Android Lollipop with Emotion UI 3.1

The P8 runs Android 5 Lollipop with Huawei's Emotion UI 3.1 overlay. This software skins the OS with quaint-looking icons for apps such as browser, files and messages. It removes the apps drawer as well, putting all your downloaded programs on the home screen, a la iOS. With Emotion UI, you can create custom skins, which lets you set your own icons, color schemes and backgrounds. This feature will not be available in the US, however.

As on the Ascend P7, you can double press the volume down button when the device is locked to quickly snap a picture without having to open the camera app. I found this to be very handy, although the pictures I snapped came out blurry. Since you won't be able to see what you're shooting onscreen, your pictures shot this way might not be framed the way you intended. But this is a nifty feature for when you want to quickly capture a fleeting moment.
In place of your typical Google apps, the P8 uses its own apps, including Huawei's Browser, Camera, Clock, Phone, Messaging and File Manager. You'll have access to the Play Store to download other options. Huawei also loads the P8 with Search, Music, Huawei Cloud+ (available in some countries for data backup) apps, which are somewhat helpful. It's not clear specifically which apps will be available on the US version just yet.

Enhanced for connectivity

Huawei says it optimized the P8 for connectivity in a number of ways. First, the phone will more quickly connect to a network during bootup. It will also automatically detect the strength of your cell and Wi-Fi connections and switch to the stronger of the two for better speeds. You can choose to enable this feature automatically or have it ask you before switching, so you don't accidentally get off Wi-Fi abroad and drum up roaming charges.

P8 Max phablet

The company also unveiled its large 6.8-inch P8 Max phablet at the event. It looks like a supersized P8 but also a little like the iPhone 6 Plus. At 0.26 inches thin though, the P8 Max is one of the slimmest phablets around, compared to the iPhone 6 Plus (0.28 inches) and the Galaxy Note 4 (0.4 inches). The P8 Max sports a display that Huawei claims is richer and more vivid than the iPhone 6 Plus. It will also run Android 5 Lollipop with Emotion UI, and comes with Split Windows and other features that make use of the large screen for better multitasking.
The P8 Max's large 4,360-mAh battery will last about 2.23 days and 1.4 days of normal and heavy use respectively, according to Huawei. And with the company's patented 7-layer heat conduction thermal tech, the P8 Max should stay cool regardless of how much you use it.

Huawei reveals Ascend P8, coming to SA in June

There was a time when choosing a smartphone consisted of deciding between an iPhone or a Samsung. In the last few years we’ve seen the likes of Lumia, Sony, HTC and LG throw their hats into the ring and produce phones that compete with the two gadget giants. In the last few weeks we’ve seen a new Samsung enter the fray, an HTC One M9 launched and in the next few weeks a the rumoured LG G4 will make her appearance.

Chinese manufacturer Huawei has been knocking at the door for some time, releasing phones with similar specs to compete with the bigger brands while beating them on price points (got to love those Chinese imports).
Today in London, Huawei announced their latest flagship, the Huawei Ascend P8. It’s super skinny at 6.4mm. Huawei’s biggest downfall in the past was that the aesthetics of their phones were, well, cheap and plastic. They’ve upped the game a bit with the P8 using premium materials with an aluminium unibody and offering up a very similar look to that of the iPhone 6. However the phone manufacturer says this won’t effect the pricing we’ve come to expect from Huawei. I’m presuming they took a knock in profit margins to try compete with the big boys then? There’s a 5.2″ display with 78.3% screen-to-body ratio… they’d like you to know that that is industry leading, by the way. I’m not sure it matters.
The specs are pretty decent. A 13MP rear camera, 8MP front facing camera and, just for Matty, a host of “selfie” features that include being able to get great architecture shots in low light (for those selfie backgrounds) and a selfie fix that will remove all the things about your face you might not like. The phone brags a 2680 mAh battery (with quick charge!) which should give you a day of heavy usage and if you don’t choose to Instagram all of your food you’ll likely get a day and a half out of it. They’ve added lots of bells and whistles, some fun features and, for the most part, it’s a really impressive phone. This is mainly because Huawei have costed it at around the R7000-R8000 mark.

But in true “we’ll do what those other (Apple) guys did” form, Huawei didn’t only announce the P8 but also the P8 Max. Smartphone manufacturers seem to feel rather strongly that bigger is better. The P8 Max’s biggest selling point is the battery. It’s a 4360 mAh battery and the marketing folk assure me you can actually watch downloaded video for over 10 consecutive hours… but until I’ve done it, the jury’s out. It has a 6.2″ screen so you can toss out your tablet. The screen is an HD JDI screen which makes it the largest in-cell FHD screen in the world. It’s a beast, utilising the same DX19 high thermal conductivity alloy found in some luxury automobiles to avoid overheating. Again, I’m not sure this is a really big deal but it’s a fun fact to throw out at dinner parties while you look ridiculous with your giant phone bulging out your pocket.
For the most part I like what Huawei has done here. Their P8 presentation consisted of a lot of “this is better than the S6 and iPhone 6″ graphics and I like their ballsy nature. They had more than 700 media at the P8’s London launch. Clearly they want a slice of the Apple and Samsung Pie.
Expect the phones to land on SA Shores around mid June, just a few weeks after the HTC One M9 becomes available to the local crowd. The true question is, would the Apple loyal leave their beloved brand for this Chinese (not really but sort of) copy?

LifeNSoul BM101

The LifeNSoul BM101 is an ultraportable Bluetooth speaker that vaguely resembles one of those personal motorized fans people use at picnics and baseball games. For such a tiny and inexpensive speaker, the $24.99 BM101 actually pushes out a respectable amount of sound (though anyone seeking stereo channels or any semblance of bass is going to need to spend more money). The BM101 serves three primary functions: It's very affordable, it's very portable, and, most importantly, it's water-resistant. While it's not flawless—the design would be more useful if it featured a clip or a suction cup for in-shower use—it's hard to complain about a speaker this size and price that can hang out poolside. If you want to spend a little more for a bit more power, our Editors' Choice Panasonic SC-NT10$39.95 at Amazon is a good option.

DesignAvailable in black, white, pink, purple, or blue, the BM101 is barrel-shaped and pocket-sized. It sits upright, projecting sound upward through its single, one-inch driver. The driver itself is positioned behind a sort-of grille that looks a little bit like fan blades or a jet engine. Its entire body seems to vibrate with audio to help create a slightly greater sense of bass on certain tracks, but this is obviously not a big-sounding speaker.
There are three buttons on the BM101: a Play/Pause button that doubles as Power/Pairing, and two Track Forward/Backward buttons that double as Volume Up/Down when they are held down.
A rubber, water-resistant lanyard snaps on and off of the BM101 with ease, making it ease to wear around your wrist or fasten to a bike handle. That said, we've seen more functional designs for water-resistant speakers that incorporate hooks or suction cups for shower use. None, however, are as inexpensive as the BM101, so it's hardly a major criticism.

The BM101 ships with a micro USB charging cable; the connection on the speaker is protected with a snap-shut cover. LifeNSoul estimates battery life to be a modest three hours on a full charge, but your results will vary based on how loud you play your tunes.
In our tests, the pairing process with an iPhone 5s was quick and simple. The status LEDs blink when paired, which can be annoying after a while; they flash behind the track navigation buttons and seemingly light up the entire device.
As for water-resistance, this is definitely a speaker that can get wet and still offer solid playback. It's more of a poolside, tub-side, or in-shower option than a speaker you can submerge regularly, but it will survive a brief dunking and keep playing when you fish it out.
Some tracks made the BM101 dance across our desktop during water-free testing; it almost looks like a little robot dancing to the beat when the vibrations are strong enough.
Performance and ConclusionsIt's no surprise that the BM101 distorts on tracks with really deep bass like The Knife's "Silent Shout," but dialing back the volume a bit can rein things in. On tracks with less intense low-end, like Bill Callahan's "Drover," the vocals and guitar-strumming are crisp and clear, and the bass and drums are delivered with enough low-mid presence so that things sound closer to full than thin.
See How We Test Speakers
On Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild," the kick drum loop is delivered with enough thump to create a palpable idea of bass (without actually delivering the lows), while the vocals remain clear and crisp; there's no distortion on this track, either. Bass fiends will need to spend more money, but if you're just looking for a very affordable way to take your music on the go, the BM101 is a solid option.
For those who need bigger bass, the more expensive Freshetech Splash Shower Tunes and the Boom Movement Swimmer$59.00 at Amazon are slightly larger, somewhat fuller-sounding water-resistant speakers with more shower-friendly designs than the BM101. We also like the Altec Lansing Bluetooth Shower Wireless Speaker (IMW395), and the Panasonic SC-NT10 remains our Editors' Choice, but for $25, it's hard to take issue with the relatively powerful, portable, water-resistant BM101.

Lightning Connector Cables

Cables in lengths from 2 to 10 feet!

Our Made for iPhone-certified charge/sync cables for your new iPhone, iPod touch or iPad are now available in these popular configurations.

• 2' straight USB-to-Lightning cable - Lightning charging on the road
• 3' straight USB-to-Lightning cable
• 4' coiled USB-to-Lightning cable - the best choice for charging in your car.
• 9.8' (3 meter) straight USB-to-Lightning cable - great for home, dorm or office use
To make sure we get our newest products to our online customers before anyone else, early units may ship without retail packaging. These are the same great products you'll find in stores, and they're covered by our one-year warranty.

Features

• Made for iPhone-certified
• Full-size USB Type-A connection to your computer to charge, sync or transfer data
• Lightning Connector to your device
• Use with Griffin PowerBlock and PowerJolt chargers, or as an extra charging cable for car, office or anywhere else
• Don't get caught cable-less; carry an extra in your bag or backpack to charge and sync on the go

Apple® - 3.3' Lightning-to-USB 2.0 Cable - White

Charge and sync your compatible Apple® device with this Apple MD818ZM/A cable, which features a Lightning connector for use with iPad® mini, iPad with Retina, iPhone® 5 and 5s, iPod® nano 7th generation and iPod touch 5th generation.

Product Features

Compatible with most Apple devices with a Lightning connector

Such as iPad mini, iPad with Retina, iPhone 5 and 5s, iPod nano 7th generation and iPod touch 5th generation.

Provides reliable connection to your computer's USB port

So you can easily charge and sync your device.

3.3' cable length

Allows for flexible placement while charging devices.

iPad is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries

Apple, the Apple logo and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. iPod is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.

Razor has USB charger; footwear wards off rain

So everything's going gadget-y these days. So much so that even electric shavers are looking like iPhones.
The ShaveTech not only resembles a small iPhone, this sleek, travel-friendly razor can be charged via its built-in, pull-out Universal Serial Bus, or USB, outlet. This allows the user to plug it into any laptop or USB car charger -- "no more searching for the right adapter overseas or filling up outlets with endless cords," according to the news release. A single charge will last for 30 minutes. Offered in black or white, the ShaveTech comes with a soft pouch for protection and a cleaning brush.
ShaveTech is billed as giving an "incredibly close" shave. Having received a sample, I turned it over to the person in my household who could definitely use a close shave: my husband, Dre. For him, the gizmo gives a decent shave, but not a perfect one.
According to instructions, the user should stretch the skin taut before shaving for best results. Dre did this, but some stubborn hairs evaded the blades, especially under the chin. And we share the concern of some online reviewers of the ShaveTech: Allowing the battery time to run down completely before recharging -- per the ShaveTech's instructions -- could be an issue for time-pressed travelers. But the gadget's handiness factor is unmistakable.
ShaveTech is $29.99 and is sold online at Shavetech.com and at select retailers in the United States and Canada.
Rockin' that footwear
With the abundance of wet weather here lately -- sleet, snow, rain, repeat -- just what will those April showers be like? No telling. But shoe brand Rockport stands ready to help its wearers weather any storm.
Rockport's waterproof footwear offerings include boots and shoes -- including men's dress shoes -- bearing Hydro-Shield technology, which its makers guarantee will keep the moisture out even in the most oppressive precipitation.
Among the waterproof styles are the men's Ellingwood ($100), a leather, tapered-toe dress oxford that comes in oxblood or black. It's equipped with waterproofing substances tanned into the leather and a special seam-sealant designed to help keep the foot dry. A sample of the shoe proves its sleek, elegant looks and immaculate workmanship; it's easy to cringe at the thought of testing it out in wet weather. But my reviewer, who raved about the shoe's look and comfort level, will be doing so soon. Look for a follow-up report in a future Dressing Room.
Meanwhile, Rockport also has released its spring 2015 line for women. Among the styles is the 7 to Seven High Color Block Pump ($150), offered in a pearlized dark azure suede, black or nude with snakeskin detailing. The shoe features a 3 ³/4-inch heel made more comfortable with a hidden, half-inch, dual-density platform that bends with and cushions the feet. A NanoGlide lining helps reduce friction. There's a rubber outsole to help provide a good grip on various surfaces. I tried the shoe; here again, the workmanship, detailing and comfort level are laudable.

Still blossoming
It was in September that I first mentioned Cherry Blooms. This is the Brisbane, Australia-based product, founded by Jellaine Ross, that's basically a set of eyelash extensions in a kit: A tube of transplanting mascara gel and a tube of dry nylon brush-on fibers work together to make lashes up to 300 percent longer and thicker without looking fake. They can be worn up to five days.
I recently obtained my own kit for use, and have been getting better at applying Cherry Blooms and making them look natural. If you've worn the high-end NaturaLash or Xtreme eyelash extensions but can't afford them right now, this kit will prove a consolation. Multiple applications elongate the lashes considerably. (Note: I've found that if I make mine too long, the tips will become bent as the day goes on.)
Shirt up straight
We all know that slouching and hunching are bad for us, and that good posture gives us presence. The Paris-based UpCouture apparel is all about good posture. Offering items for women and men, UpCouture is said to be the world's first patented anti-slouching, posture-promoting shirt line.
UpCouture's signature shirt is the "Up T-Shirt." Thanks to a patented active mechanism, extra-thin elastic film -- built in between organic cotton layers within the shirt -- pushes and maintains the shoulders in an upright position. The configuration of the elastic bands offers optimal pressure, which makes the T-shirt less comfortable to wear when slouching than when maintaining good posture. (The shirt doesn't actually force the wearer's posture into position, which would weaken the back muscles.)
The Up Shirt line is the brainchild of lawyer Neda Naef, CEO of UpCouture, who was concerned about the nonaesthetic appearance caused by her slouching. A fitness enthusiast, Naef theorized that if she had trouble maintaining good posture throughout the day, then a great number of other people probably have the same problem.
UpCouture's anti-slouching Up Shirts are online and priced in euros, at UpCouture.com. Most shirts are $127 euros, which isn't cheap; that's about $142.
Women in black
Break out your mother's vintage black frock for Fashion Footprints: Celebrating the Little Black Dress. This event will take place from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the new studio of designer Linda Rowe Thomas, 310 Center St. in Little Rock. It's one of the Fashion Footprints Spring Events, in collaboration with Oxford American magazine, Esse Purse Museum, Thomas and the Capital Hotel.
Guests are encouraged to wear their family-heirloom fashion garments and accessories and share personal stories behind them in front of a "confessional" camera. They'll also be encouraged to share stories via video at the April event, whose details are to be announced. Clips from those videos will be shown at the final Fashion Footprints event in May.