WSJ: Apple working on a low-cost iPhone

According to the authoritative publication Wall Street Journal, referring to its sources at Apple, Cupertino-based company for several years considering the issue of the budget version of iPhone. More accessible "apple" smartphone, aimed to compete with low-cost Android-communicators, filling the mobile market, it may come out in late 2013. It will be made of cheaper materials.

Yesterday that Apple is preparing a low-cost iPhone,  reported Taiwan edition DigiTime . Today he was joined by resource Wall Street Journal. Argues that there is supposedly a prototype of such a device. On the technical characteristics of the gadget no information, but we can safely assume that the Retina-display it likely to be. It is reported that the body of the phone with an aluminum coating can be used in plastic. Other details remain the same or can be recycled from the old models. However, Apple may abandon those plans, notes the WSJ.

Analysts believe that the production of low-cost iPhone will be an abrupt change in the concept of Apple. Steve Jobs at the company's commitment goods production premium. Apparently, the position of the leadership Apple has affected the competitive war with the producers of Google phone very successfully operating in the Asian markets.

Apple faced a lot of pressure to make the iPhone more affordable, the newspaper notes. In III quarter 2012, according to analysts, the company produced only 14.6% of smartphones worldwide, down from a peak of 23% in the IV quarter of 2011 and first quarter of 2012. In comparison, the share of Samsung in the market has grown in III quarter of 2012 to 31.3% from 8.8% for the same period of 2010.

Sensus: Case for iPhone with the touch surface [CES 2013]

At CES 2013 the company has demonstrated a unique Canopy accessory for iPhone. Case called Sensus turns back panel of the smartphone Apple in the touch surface. That way the user will be able to play and use applications without closing the device's screen with your fingers.

 

Using the new product, the owner of iPhone can comfortably read, play, and scroll the pages of sites on the Internet, without touching the display. In this unique case, like any other case protects your device from bumps and other external influences.

In case embedded microprocessors that handle contact the owner, recognizing at the same time up to ten different teams. The surface of the cover, according to the manufacturer, is more sensitive than the phone screen. It is noteworthy that the touch panel is not one, but two: the second is on the side of the unit.

Sensus is connected to the dock connector of iPhone, using it to connect with your device. Accessory works without a battery, so do not add significant weight of the phone, but the additional drain on the battery. The only remaining issue: support for application developers and games.

The device goes on sale in the first quarter of the year ata price of 59 to 99 dollars . On the timing of release case for iPhone 5 is not reported.