iPhone 5

There's been a lot of confusion over the last 48 hours as to whether or not Apple would be selling the iPhone 5 unlocked at Apple Retail Canada. For the last few years Apple has sold new iPhones unlocked at Apple Retail on launch day, but that time is over. As part of new, anti-scalping measure, if you want an unlocked iPhone in Canada this year, you'll have to order online.

If you are a case maker then Apple usually provides you with a detailed design drawing of its iPhone models. This time however the link to the design drawing has been made available to all and it reveals some interesting information on the iPhone 5 design. We don’t know if this is intentional by Apple or if it is in error but it’s interesting none the less. Not only do they reveal all of the exact dimensions for the iPhone 5 but they provide detailed information on how to build a case for it too.

With preorders for the newly announced iPhone 5 off and running, folks in Canada may have noticed their carriers taking their sweet time to roll out new plans to go with it. While many of the carriers already offered 6GB data plans for fairly reasonable prices, they've now gone ahead and sweetened the deal by offering voice, data and other features to encourage you to give them your hard earned cash. That includes Rogers, Bell, TELUS, Virgin Mobile and Koodo.

There's a sentiment -- part genuine, part manufactured -- running through the technology community that, following the iPhone 5 event, Apple has become boring. That the iPhone looks pretty much the same this year as it did last. Of course, this meme is unburied, reanimated, and set to lurch following every new device announcement. Apple leaves themselves open to it because, for the last 3 releases, they've been iterating on essentially the same hardware design. They're not rolling dice. They're not spinning chaos. They're relentlessly working towards something they've had in mind since 2005. Something inevitable. Something unmolested by the whims, vagaries, and expectations of kitsch and trendiness.

In that regard, Apple is boring. Especially when compared to...

While some might consider the the latest, greatest 2012 iPhone 5 a no brainer when it comes to their next purchasing decision, Apple keeps the 2011 iPhone 4S and the 2010 iPhone 4 around for a reason. For some people, up-front price really does matter. However, over the lifetime of a typical contract, you'll be paying a couple thousand dollars, so it's important to really run the math on this and see what suits you best.

The iPhone 5 went on pre-order early this morning and if you are looking to grab one direct from Apple, it is already too late. The delivery date for every model of the iPhone 5 be it Black or White, 16GB, 32GB or 64GB is now as two weeks in the United States. Previously if you pre-ordered the iPhone 5 delivery was guaranteed for Friday September 21.

Pre-orders are now open at EE UK for the iPhone 5 and as well as giving you the ability to get your order in quick I am pleased to say they have some new data packages to cope with the ever evolving cloud options that us smartphone users now get. Users will also have the option to switch over to the 4G service once it goes live here in the UK. As you would imagine prices of Apples new iPhone are pretty steep but EE have some nice options depending on which model and which data allowance you will require. The following information I have acquired from the Orange website, however T-Mobile do have some slight alternatives.

If you managed to survive this morning’s pre-order and grabbed yourself a shiny new unlocked iPhone 5 direct from Apple, you need to start thinking about SIM cards. The iPhone 5 doesn’t have the traditional, ubiquitous Nini-SIM card like the iPhone 3GS, it doesn’t even have the relatively new Micro-SIM card like the iPhone 4 either -- it uses a brand new SIM card which is called the Nano-SIM.

iPhone 5 pre-orders have begun! Well, sort of. The Apple Online Store isn't working for everyone, some carrier sites are flakier than others, and in general would-be purchasers might be in for a long night.

If Apple.com fails for you, try the Apple Store app for iPhone. If a carrier website fails... try the Apple Store app for iPhone.