iPhone 4S

Apple has released iOS 6.1.1 but only for the iPhone 4S, at least for now. The update comes amid reports of cellular data issues preventing proper use of the device, originally released in 2011. Apple's release notes include mention of just specifically that:

Apple's sales in India are reportedly up 400% in 3 months according to IDC estimates. India is one of those emerging markets, alongside Russia and Brazil, that Apple is keeping a very close eye on. While China has been grabbing a lot of the headlines, conference call time, iOS 6 feature list, and even a new operating segment of late, India may not be that far behind. Akanksha Prasad & Indu Nandakumar, writing for The Times of India report:

According to a Chines media outlet, Apple is rumoured to be planning on releasing two iPhone models later this year. The first model is the expected iPhone 5S which will have the same form factor as the current iPhone 5 and the second rumored release will be the device that we keep hearing about, the 5-inch iPhone.

Sprint has announced their Q4 2012 financial results, and along with net operating revenue of $35.3 billion, including $21.7 billion from wireless, with an annual operating loss of 1.8 billion. Sprint sold 2.2 million iPhones, 38% of which went to new customers. No Q4 smartphone total was given, but Sprint also reported their 2012 full year results, which included approximately 20 million smartphones sold, more than 6.6 million of which were iPhones, 40% of which went to new customers. No iPad numbers were broken out. According to Sprint CEO Dan Hesse:

When Apple first showed off the new, unibody slate and black iPhone 5, I referred to it as Vader black. I liked the look so much, I escalated it by going retro-black with my Lock screen and Home screen wallpapers. Then, when AnoStyle was announced, I immediately wanted to take it one step further. I wanted the Blackout look you see on high-end watches and cars. Problem was, AnoStyle didn't offer black anodization. Not yet, at least...

So I bugged Ally and her Ano-Ninja accomplice, Rob, and volunteered to be test subject zero for their first-ever Blackout iPhone 5. And as you can see from the results above and below, they did not fail to delight.

Just over a week ago I ran the numbers on a bigger screen iPhone, and presented several ways Apple could go, including just taking the current screen and stretching it out to almost 5-inches, which would give it the same 264ppi pixel density as the Retina iPad 4 screen. Since Apple used the iPhone density to make the iPad mini, using the iPad density to make the iPhone maxi has a certain symmetry to it.

But would stretching out the icons, buttons, text and other interface elements just make them look bigger, or would it make them look silly? Let's find out...

Well known high end Apple accessory manufacturer Twelvesouth has announced its latest accessory for the iPhone and it is something just that little bit different. Say hello to the “SurfacePad” which Twelvesouth is calling an ultra-slimluxury leather cover for the iPhone. Yep, it is not a case according to Twelvesouth, it’s a cover for those that like to keep their iPhone safe from life’s daily dangers while still allowing its beautiful design to shine through.

iPhone users pay more in carrier fees on average than the users of other smartphones. New data indicates that 60% of iPhone users spend at least $100 per month on their cellular plan, with 10% spending $200 or more.