Wallpaper Wednesday 5 Space-Themed iPhone Wallpapers

We’re back today with the reintroduction of the Wallpaper Wednesday feature! This week we’re bringing you 5 space-themed wallpapers that you’ll most definitely love. Apple includes some space-y wallpapers as part of iOS, and these will surely compliment your collection.

To set these images as your Lock Screen or Home Screen wallpaper, head over to this article on your iOS device and download the image by tapping on the ‘download link’ found below the image. From there, tap and hold on the image until you get a browser pop up and be sure to tap “Save Image”. It should automatically save to your camera roll and you can set your wallpaper from there, or head to the Settings app under the “Brightness and Wallpaper” section.

Download Link

Download Link

Download Link

Download Link

Download Link

Be sure to leave a comment down below letting us know when of these is your favorite! And be sure to tune in next Wednesday as we bring you even more beautiful wallpapers for your iOS devices!

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iPhone 6 mockup with 5.5-inch screen compared to iPhone 5s

We saw images of a physical mockup of the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 last month, and new images posted on Rocket News 24 compare the mockup to the 4-inch iPhone, giving an idea of how big the larger model would actually be relative to the iPhone 5s.

We’ve seen several such images comparing mockups of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 model, but this is the first time we’re seeing images of the 5.5-inch iPhone being compared to the current 4-inch iPhone 5s. 3D models for the two rumored iPhone 6 variants are available since quite some time, so we’re surprised that it took this long for 5.5-inch iPhone 6 comparisons to surface.

The comparison images show the huge difference in size of the 5.5 inch screen and the 4 inch screen. At 157 mm in height, and 77 mm in width, the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 is significantly taller and wider than the iPhone 5s, but is much thinner at 6.7 mm versus iPhone 5s’ 7.6 mm thickness.

The other design characteristics of the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 mockup bear resemblance to the 4.7-inch mockup, with rounded edges, pill-shaped volume buttons, and the repositioned power button.

Apple is widely rumored to release two different sized iPhone 6 variants this year, with the 4.7-inch model due for release in September, while the larger 5.5-inch variant being delayed due to yield issues. iPhone 6 is expected to include Apple’s new A8 processor, Touch ID fingerprint sensor, and an improved 8-megapixel camera. The iPhone 6 will also come pre-installed with iOS 8, which may include new apps such as Healthbook, TextEdit and Preview, improved Maps, inter-app communication capabilities and more.

[Rocket News via MacRumors]

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Here’s How Apple can transition to a ‘3x’ iPhone 6 with 1704×960 Resolution Display

A report from earlier today claims that the iPhone 6 will feature a 1704×960 resolution display with a much higher pixel density. The 1704×960 display resolution is thrice the base resolution (568 x 320 pixels), and the transition to a 3x screen resolution from the current 2x Retina displays would be quite smooth.

Just like the non-Retina to Retina transition, the 2x to 3x transition would involve a proportional scaling up of image assets in unoptimised apps, and would require developers to issue updates to their apps to supply @3x image assets as well.

A MacRumors forum poster visually explained that scaling up 2x image assets for the 3x iPhone 6 display would look much better than what 1x assets scaled up to 2x looked like.

From the forums:

Keep in mind however that unlike with the @1x -> @2x transition we had in 2010, this time we’d only have a 50% enlargement rather than 100%. 

The thing is, a 50% enlargement with interpolation doesn’t look worse than a 100% enlargement with pixel-doubling, despite the loss of details due to the interpolation. [...] 

As you can see, older non-@3x-optimized apps would actually look better on an @3x iPhone than non-@2x-opitmized apps did on an @2x iPhone. Add to this the fact that the screen’s pixel density would be higher this time around, and the perceived image quality difference would be even smaller.

iOS 8 will presumably automatically handle optimising system-drawn elements like text, vector icons, etc., for the higher-resolution screen, so that it looks sharp and crisp. This optimising will be done without developers having to update their apps.

9to5Mac notes:

Sources say that core user interface elements, from iOS functions like the Home screen, Notification Center, and Settings panels, will simply appear like larger versions of those functions on the current iPhone display. However, sources also say it is likely that developers and Apple itself will be able to optimize some applications to better utilize the larger screen area. It is possible Apple could revamp the Home screen and other functions between now and this fall’s launch.

To see how the existing iPhone interface would scale up, 9to5Mac tweaked the iOS Simulator to run at 3x mode.

Here’s how the home screen would look on the higher resolution iPhone 6 display. As you can see, the number of apps in the home screen grid remains the same, but their size increases.

Similarly, here’s how the Notification Center would look on the larger screen. Since the interface is mostly text, Apple would need to make very few tweaks to get Notification Center ready for the iPhone 6:

The Calendar app on the other hand makes use of image assets for search, add and list buttons, and they will appear pixellated until Apple uses @3x images for the buttons:

Apple’s known to make transitions between new screen sizes, new resolutions as easy as possible for developers, and this @3x approach is the easiest for developers, because apart from providing high-resolution image assets, they won’t have to make any other layout changes for their apps. The transition also ensures that users would get the best experience possible with apps not optimised for 3x mode.

Let us know what you think of Apple’s transition strategy to 3x screen resolution in the comments below.

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iPhone grabs 36.6 percent of Japanese mobile phone market

Apple’s share of the Japanese mobile phone market is on the rise, climbing 11 percentage points year over year. According to a report in Bloomberg, this climb is due in part to the expansion of the handset to Japan’s largest wireless carrier NTT Docomo, which started offering the phone last September.

iPhone shipments now account for more than a third of Japan’s mobile phone market in the period ending March 2014. This figure is up 11 percentage points from last year when Apple’s iPhone models accounted for a quarter of the phones in the country.

Apple boosted iPhone shipments in Japan to 36.6 percent of the market in the year ended March, up from 25.5 percent a year earlier, according to Tokyo-based MM Research Institute Ltd. The Cupertino, California-based smartphone maker shipped 14.43 million phones in Japan the past fiscal year, the researcher said.

Other handset makers behind Apple include Sharp with 13 percent market share and Sony with 12.3 market share. Samsung was number six with 5.7 percent market share.

These results echo an earlier report from Kantar World Panel that pegged Apple’s smartphone market share at a dominant 56.7 percent. The popularity of the iPhone again was attributed to NTT Docomo, with the iPhone responsible for more than 40 percent of sales on the wireless carrier. Japan will be a key are of growth for Apple going forward as smartphone penetration in the country is low compared to Europe and the US, where the majority of cellular customers already own a smartphone.

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iPhone 6 may feature 1704×960 Resolution Display with significantly higher pixel density

Apple is planning to make a significant change in the resolution with the launch of iPhone 6, reports 9to5Mac.

The report claims the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 could feature a 1704×960 resolution display, which would be three times the base resolution (568 x 320).

The iPhone 5s comes with a 1136 x 640 resolution display, which is two times the base resolution. The report claims that Apple plans to retain the same 16:9 aspect ratio as the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, and iPhone 5.

This would mean that the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 would feature a display density of 416 ppi, and the rumored 5.5-inch iPhone 6 would feature a display density of 356 PPI. The report points out that Apple plans to increase the resolution to ensure that pixel density is within its threshold for a “Retina Display”.

This means that Apple will likely be tripling the aforementioned “base resolution” (568 x 320) of the iPhone screen in both directions, and that the iPhone screen resolution will be scaled with an increase of 150% from the current 2X resolution of 1136 x 640. Of course, Apple tests several different iPhones and display technologies, so it is possible that Apple chooses to take another route for display specifications for the 2014 iPhone upgrade. [..]

[..] So, regardless of whether Apple goes with a 4.7-inch or 5.5-inch panel—or both—the new iPhone(s) will have significantly more dense screens in comparison to current and past iPhones, which will result in crisper text, images, and video for users of the next-generation Apple smartphones. Also, by definition, both screens will have pixel densities that fit comfortably within Apple’s threshold for a “Retina” display.

It has been speculated that Apple will increase the resolution to 1334×750 for the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 to maintain the 326 ppi density, which is the display density of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c. However, the pixel tripling (3X) mode makes a lot more sense and would be easier to implement for both Apple and third-party app developers.

The report notes that Apple has been testing the 1704×960 resolution display, however it is not clear if Apple plans to go ahead with that resolution for the next generation iPhones.

Apple is widely expected to release two variants of the iPhone 6 this year, which may feature an all-new ultra thin design, narrower bezels and rounded edges. The first variant will have a 4.7 inch display, which could be launched as early as August, followed by the larger 5.5-inch model in September. 

In addition to the larger screens with higher pixel density, iPhone 6 is also expected to include Apple’s new A8 processor, Touch ID fingerprint sensor, and an improved 8-megapixel camera. The iPhone 6 will also come pre-installed with iOS 8, which may include new apps such as Healthbook, TextEdit and Preview, improved Maps, inter-app communication capabilities and more.

[via 9to5Mac]

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Apple restricting vacation time for its Retail Employees in September for iPhone 6 launch

German website iFun.de reports that Apple is looking to restrict vacation days for its German retail employees this September possibly for the launch of iPhone 6.

Apple is likely to restrict vacation days in other countries as well.

Last year, Apple had cut down vacation time for its AppleCare employees between September 15 and September 28 for the launch of iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c. Apple carrier partners also tend to cut down vacation time for their staff for the launch of the new iPhone.

Apple is widely expected to release two variants of the iPhone 6 this year, which may feature an all-new ultra thin design, narrower bezels and rounded edges. The first variant will have a 4.7 inch display, which could be launched as early as August, followed by the larger 5.5-inch model in September. There are speculations that Apple will also launch its long-rumored iWatch smartwatch alongside the new iPhone.

iPhone 6 is also expected to include Apple’s new A8 processor, Touch ID fingerprint sensor, and an improved 8-megapixel camera. The iPhone 6 will also come pre-installed with iOS 8, which may include new apps such as Healthbook, TextEdit and Preview, improved Maps, inter-app communication capabilities and more.

[iFun.de via MacRumors]

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iStick is the first Made for iPhone, iPad USB drive with an integrated Lightning connector

Hyper makes accessories for Apple products, and its latest product called the iStick is the first Apple-approved Made-for-iPhone/iPad USB flash drive that comes with both a USB as well as a Lightning connector so as to work with computers and iOS devices.

The iStick is a small accessory that has a sliding switch with a USB port on one end and a Lightning connector on the other. With the USB end, you can use the iStick as a regular USB flash drive, and you can access the same data on your iOS device through the Lightning end of the switch.

The accessory has a companion app lets you play music, download photos and watch videos stored on the drive, without occupying any additional space on your iOS device’s inbuilt storage. Videos can be in almost any format, including native formats like mp4, m4v, mov as well as non-native formats like avi, mkv, wmv etc. You can even use the iStick to share data between two iOS devices.

The iStick drive comes in 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB variants and costs $129, $169, $199 and $299 respectively. The product is available for pre-order through a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign, where you can reserve an iStick for 50% off, which makes the costs $65 for 8GB, $85 for 16GB, $99 for 32GB and $149 for 64GB.

The lack of an option to expand iPhone or iPad storage can be frustrating at times, but I’m hoping the iStick makes up for the lack of an SD card slot on iOS devices. Let me know what you think about the iStick in the comments below.

[via 9to5Mac]

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Video showcases Gold and Space Gray iPhone 6 mockups

We’ve seen a steady stream of iPhone 6 mockup devices from a variety of blogs including Nowhereelse.fr and MacRumors. Now 9to5Mac has compiled its collection of cases and mockups, including two iPhone 6 mockups in Gold and Space Gray, and showcased the units in the video embedded below.

The mockups match earlier leaks, with a rounded design that is reminiscent of the iPod touch and a larger form factor to accommodate a 4.7-inch display. The cases and the mockups are from different sources, but they match perfectly notes 9to5Mac, suggesting these dummy units and their cases are machined carefully based on leaked schematics and not hastily thrown together

Of course, these mockups are based on leaked schematics that may or may not match Apple’s final design for its next generation iPhone. You can check out the dummy units in the comparison video below, and let us know what you think in the comments.

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iPhone 6 vs. iPhone 5s: New photos gives a good look at the radical new design

Few days back, the physical mockup of the iPhone 6 was compared to the iPhone 5s.

Folks at French website Nowhereelse.fr have published some more photos of the iPhone 6 mockup compared to the iPhone 5s, which gives a much better idea of the next generation iPhone’s radical new design.

According to Nowhereelse.fr, which claims it received these photos from an unnamed source, the iPhone 6 mockup measures 138 mm tall by 67 mm wide and 7 mm thick, compared to the iPhone 5s which measures 123.8 mm tall by 58.6 mm wide and 7.6 mm thick.

As you can see in the photos below, despite the 4.7-inch screen, the iPhone 6 doesn’t seem to be substantially bigger than the iPhone 5s probably due to narrower bezels. If these measurements are accurate, it will be only 11.5% taller and 14.3% wider than the iPhone 5s.

The leak also reveals the iPhone 6 will be 7 mm thick, which is marginally thinner than the iPhone 5s, and not 6 mm as some rumors had suggested, making it a lot more believable.

The power button is also on the top right hand side of the device, which is in line with rumors that have indicated Apple will be changing the position of the button for easier one-handed access on the larger iPhone.

I think this is the best physical mockup of the iPhone 6 we’ve seen so far. Some readers have criticized the rounded edges, but I really like the new design though I hope Apple does a better job of hiding the cut-outs for the antenna at the back.

Check out the iPhone 6 and iPhone 5s comparison photos below, and let me know what you think in the comments.

[via Nowhereelse.fr]

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DailyPaper: Upcoming Tweak automatically sets a new Wallpaper on your iPhone every day

I change my iOS device wallpaper fairly often because they get stale quickly and changing them (especially with iOS 7 transparency) breathes life into the UI. A new tweak called DailyPaper from jailbreak development group HASHBANG Productions has been announced, which brings the ability to automatically give your device a new wallpaper every night. Wallpapers are pulled from Bing, Microsoft’s search engine which famously gets fresh coat of paint every day with a fantastic, high quality image.

Bing may not be useful for much, but whoever is in charge of curating their wallpaper selection does a great job. This tweak takes advantage of that, and does so in a user-friendly and convenient way. After you enable the tweak, you have a variety of options to choose from so that DailyPaper works the way you want it to. If you’re limited on data, there’s an option to only download a new wallpaper if your device is connected to Wi-Fi. For similar reasons, there’s an option to allow you to disable high quality wallpapers. Turning off this option makes most sense if your device doesn’t have a retina display.

Also, there are a couple more options at the bottom of the tweak’s settings panel which let you further customize the wallpapers that are downloaded and what the tweak does with them. First, you can select which screens you would like the wallpapers to be applied to; assumably, the home screen, the lock screen and both screens will all be options within this panel. You can also select which Bing region you would like to download from, with the default being the “Worldwide” site.

To get an idea of what kind of wallpapers you’ll be seeing on your device once you have DailyPaper, head over to the unofficial Bing wallpaper archive. While you wait for DailyPaper, you can head to that site on your iOS device and download those wallpapers at your own discretion.

As you can see in the tweet embedded above, we don’t have much information regarding the price or release date of DailyPaper. There’s no way of knowing what HASHBANG plans to charge (or not charge) for the tweak, and the only information we have as to when it will drop on Cydia is the single word “Soon.”

Is this a tweak you would use?

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