Otterbox today sent out a press release announcing cases designed for the new iPhone 5s and 5c models, and specifically addressed the new Touch ID fingerprint sensor that will be built into the iPhone 5s.
Because the company's bulky Defender Series of cases are designed to offer full device protection, it would seem that Otterbox might encounter some difficulties accounting for the home button and the fingerprint sensor.
However, Otterbox says all the its cases are "designed specifically to accommodate the new Touch ID fingerprint identity sensor technology, and all device functionality remains uninhibited by the case."
"Every Apple launch means new technologies that enhance the iPhone user experience, while at the same time create challenges for our products to evolve," said OtterBox CEO Brian Thomas. "We have very talented design and engineering teams working hard to anticipate new technologies and determine the most elegant solutions for our cases which complement the user experience. As always, the OtterBox team will lead with innovations in premium protective solutions for these new devices and welcome the challenges that each new product launch generates."
Defender, Commuter, Reflex and Prefix cases will be immediately available for the iPhone 5s, while Defender and Commuter cases for the iPhone 5c will be available soon.
Many other cases, like the aluminum iGlaze Armour from Moshi, will work fine with Touch ID because they don't cover the home button at all.
The flagship feature of the iPhone 5s is the new Touch ID fingerprint sensor, and we're beginning to get a better idea of how it works.
It appears Apple has designed Touch ID to be faster than entering a four-digit passcode, stating in its marketing materials that using Touch ID is "faster, easier, and even a little futuristic". It will allow users to store up to five fingerprints, allowing other trusted users access to a locked phone.
Put your finger on the Home button, and just like that your iPhone unlocks. It’s a convenient and highly secure way to access your phone. Your fingerprint can also approve purchases from iTunes Store, the App Store, and the iBooks Store, so you don’t have to enter your password. And Touch ID is capable of 360-degree readability. Which means no matter what its orientation — portrait, landscape, or anything in between — your iPhone reads your fingerprint and knows who you are.
Financial Times reporter Tim Bradshaw shared this video showing how the iPhone learns a fingerprint by scanning a finger a half-dozen times.
TechCrunch wrote that once a fingerprint was successfully learned, "it worked flawlessly to unlock the device for every subsequent trial."
Also, AllThingsDreports that third-party developers will not get access to the fingerprint authentication protocol, at least not initially.
The iPhone 5s will cost $199, $299, and $399 for the 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB models respectively with a 2-year contract. Non-contract, unlocked devices will be available at launch for $649/$749/$849.
The iPhone 5s and the lower-cost iPhone 5c -- which does not have Touch ID -- will be available in stores in the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, and the UK starting on September 20.
Apple today debuted a new "Space Gray" color for the iPhone 5s and has made the color available for the iPod touch, nano, and shuffle as well. In addition to their standard colors, each of these devices can be purchased in Space Gray, which replaces the existing black color.
The small color update for existing iPod products indicates that Apple does not plan to further upgrade the devices with a spec bump in the near future. All of the newly-colored devices can be found on Apple’s Online Store and will be available at brick and mortar locations beginning on September 20.
A number of news sites have been able to go hands-on with Apple's newly announced iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, both of which introduce a number of new features. While the iPhone 5c’s major selling point is its bright and colorful polycarbonate shell, the iPhone 5s boasts processor improvements and a new Touch ID fingerprint sensor.
iPhone 5s In a hands-on post of the iPhone 5s, The Verge notes that the gold color “looks better in person” compared to leaked images, and notes that the "Space Gray" and white colors are very similar to the iPhone 5. The major difference between the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5 is the ring around the home button and the slightly larger flash.
Starting with that home button, it's now made of sapphire so that it can act as a reliable fingerprint reader. It's not nearly as concave as previous models — in fact, it's almost flat. Luckily, it still maintains a nice, tactile feel when you click on it and we don't foresee anybody running into any issues. We watched the fingerprint sensor unlock the phone quickly and easily (though we didn't get to try it ourselves).
Everything felt fast and fluid — although the animations in iOS 7 are still a little slow to our tastes — but scrolling in the new Safari was better than before, if only by a tiny amount.
TechCrunch also went hands-on with the iPhone 5s, and was able to experiment with the Touch ID fingerprint sensor, which supports up to five different fingerprints.
Essentially you spend some time letting the sensors in the Home button get used to your fingerprint, moving your finger around slightly, lifting it up just above the surface and putting it back down, with a graphic filling out how near the software is to being able to recognize your fingerprint (you can use thumb or index finger, depending on your preference).
The process took about 30 seconds to a minute overall, and then once it had successfully identified by fingerprint, it worked flawlessly to unlock the device for every subsequent trial. It also readily rejected Greg Kumparak’s attempts, proving that it isn’t just accepting all comers.
iPhone 5c According to TechCrunch, the iPhone 5c has a “lightness” in the hand thanks to the single-piece case design and “looks fantastic” in its array of bright colors.
All of that is made more impressive by the fact that the iPhone performs terrifically, and looks fantastic. The colors really pop, and the case fits solidly in the hand and thanks to a slightly rubberized feel it should be easier to hold onto than any previous iPhone as well. The color-match wallpapers add to the charm of the overall package, and that’s likely to appeal to customers who just want a device that looks great out of the box and doesn’t require any laborious customization.
Engadget thought that the iPhone 5c had a very "solid" polycarbonate build that will hold up to scuffs and drops.
There is absolutely nothing about this setup that makes us believe it's not capable of handling a full share of wear and tear, and the reinforced steel frame convinces us that it's even going to survive falls without a problem.
Speaking of which, the 5c has a glossy finish, but we were quite happy to find that it's not the fingerprint magnet that we've come to expect on other devices. It sufficiently handled the greasy fingerprints of a couple hundred journalists, so we doubt there will be any reason to be concerned about this phone looking dirty. In fact, it has a subtle shine to it that serves to complement the color selection.
The Verge was also impressed with the feel of the plastic iPhone 5c, though noted that it did not compare to the high-end feel of the iPhone 5s.
The 5c is almost like a toy, a rugged, comfortable device that doesn’t feel much heavier than the iPhone 5 despite being noticeably larger. According to Apple, the device has a larger battery than the iPhone 5, which along with its plastic shell goes a way to explaining its bulk.
This is how you make a plastic phone, though: from the cohesive shell to the smooth and glossy back (which did pick up a fair number of fingerprints) the device feels far better than Samsung’s or LG’s plastic options. Even the rubbery cases look nice, their open-circle backs fitting in nicely with the color palette.
Both the iPhone 5c and the iPhone 5s will be available for customers on September 20. Apple will begin accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 5c on September 13, but does not plan to take pre-orders for the iPhone 5s. The 16GB iPhone 5c will be priced at $99 while the 16GB iPhone 5s will be priced at $199, both with a 2-year contract.
With today's introduction of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, Apple's revised iPhone lineup saw the discontinuation of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 in most markets, while the iPhone 4s lives on as the entry-level device.
But in line with a report from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who predicted that the iPhone 5c would replace the iPhone 5 rather than the iPhone 4s in Apple's lineup, even the iPhone 4 is continuing to hang on, with Apple still offering the device in China.
It is unclear how long Apple will continue offering the device in China, but with relatively high prices in the country pushing even Apple's new "lower-cost" iPhone 5c to over $700, Apple clearly feels that it needs to offer even lower-priced options to consumers.
Both black and white models of the iPhone 4 in 8 GB capacities are available in China, with the devices priced at RMB 2588 ($423) as Apple's cheapest offering in the country. The iPhone 4s starts at RMB 3288 ($537), while the new iPhone 5c starts at RMB 4488 ($733) and the iPhone 5s starts at RMB 5288 ($864).
Following the announcement of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c today at its media event, Apple has made changes to its AppleCare+ service program for the iPhone, including raising service fees for accidental damage from $49 to $79, with the cost for the plan itself remaining at $99 to provide two years of coverage from the device purchase date.
Apple is also expanding availability of AppleCare+ beyond the United States, Canada, and Japan, with the program now also being offered in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Austria, Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and the UK.
Addtionally, Apple is now offering AppleCare+ coverage for the existing iPod touch and iPod classic models, and will also be dropping service protection for its “Earpods” headphones from the program.
AppleCare+ originally launched in 2011 and covered accidental iPhone damage for the first time for all iPhone models. Late last month, a report surfaced that AppleCare+ would be expanding to Europe.
Just an hour and a half after the end of the event, Apple has already posted video of today's iPhone media event to its website. Apple has also added the "Apple Events" channel back to the Apple TV, where users can view the event video.
With the introduction of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c today, Apple has adjusted the various combinations of LTE band support for the upcoming hardware. Each of the new iPhones actually comes in four different models supporting different bands.
In the United States, a single model of each line supports both AT&T and Verizon, as well as T-Mobile, with support for Sprint coming in a separate model that is also compatible with KDDI and Softbank in Japan.
For UK customers, the expanded LTE band support also means that the new iPhone models will be compatible with Vodafone's new LTE network in addition to continuing support for EE's network. The new devices will also be compatible with Three's LTE network, which launches in December.
For the first time, China will be included in the first wave of launches for a new iPhone model, and the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c are both offered in models that supported the TD-LTE standard used by China Mobile, the world's largest carrier. Apple and China Mobile have yet to announce a deal for the iPhone, though signs have pointed to a deal being in the works.
As noted by Unwired View, Apple's iPhone 5s may already have received regulatory certification for TD-LTE operation in China. According to reports, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued TD-LTE certification on four devices, but sources have indicated that a fifth approval, for the iPhone 5s, was kept secret by the agency.
During today’s iPhone media event, Apple announced new cases to go with both the iPhone 5c and the iPhone 5s, along with docks for both phones.
The form-fitting silicone iPhone 5c Case comes with cutout dots to show the color of the iPhone 5c beneath the case. It is available in black, white, blue, green, yellow, and Pink.
The colors match the iPhone polycarbonate shell of the iPhone 5c, and in a video shown during the presentation, it appears that Apple intends for different colored cases to be mixed with iPhone 5c shells to create unique, colorful looks. The iPhone 5c cases are priced at $29.
The case designed for the iPhone 5S is made from premium leather rather than silicone, and comes in a range of colors including brown, beige, black, yellow, blue, and (PRODUCT) RED.
According to Apple, the leather is shaped to cover the volume buttons, the on/off switch and protect the chamfered edges of the iPhone 5s. The inside of the case contains a soft microfiber, and the dye has been infused into the leather. The iPhone 5s cases are priced at $39.
Alongside the cases for the iPhone 5c and the iPhone 5s, Apple has also debuted a dock for each of the phones. The iPhone 5c dock and the iPhone 5s dock both look like standard docks that Apple has used in the past, with the exception of the Lightning adapter. Both docks are available for $29.
Finally, Apple has debuted a new 2-meter Lightning to USB cable, which is priced at $29. The docks and the Lightning cable will be available in Apple Retail Stores beginning on September 12, while the cases for the iPhone 5c and the iPhone 5s can be purchased beginning on September 20.
During today's iPhone event, Apple announced that customers would be able to pre-order the colorful iPhone 5c beginning on September 13, but there was no pre-order date given for the iPhone 5s.
Instead, Apple supplied only a September 20 release date for its flagship phone, which means the iPhone 5s will not be able to be pre-ordered ahead of time. Customers who wish to obtain an iPhone 5s on release day will need to visit an Apple Store or brick and mortar carrier store to purchase the phone.
Apple will, presumably, begin accepting online orders for the iPhone 5s on September 20, but waiting in line will almost certainly be necessary to get a phone in-hand on the release date.
Apple's iPhone 5s comes with a 64-bit A7 processor, a Touch ID fingerprint sensor, and new camera enhancements. It will ship with iOS 7 and can be purchased in three colors, including "space gray", white, and gold. The 16GB version of the iPhone 5s will cost $199 with a 2-year contract and $649 unlocked and contract free.
Following today's media event, Apple has seeded the golden master (GM) version of iOS 7 to developers. This represents the final build that will be released to the public on September 18 for installation on existing devices. iOS 7 will also be included on the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, which launch in the first round of markets on September 20.
The GM version of iOS 7 arrives as build 11A465, and Apple has also released a GM build of Xcode 5 to support iOS 7.
Apple's iPhone 5s is equipped with both an A7 processor and a new "M7" chip that is otherwise known as a "motion coprocessor." It is designed to work alongside the A7 processor, capturing motion data from the phone's compass, accelerometer, and gyroscope to power a new generation of health and fitness apps.
Every iPhone 5s includes the new M7 motion coprocessor that gathers data from the accelerometer, gyroscope and compass to offload work from the A7 for improved power efficiency. Developers can also access new CoreMotion APIs that take advantage of M7, so they can create even better fitness and activity apps that go well beyond what other mobile devices offer. The M7 motion coprocessor continuously measures your motion data, even when the device is asleep, and saves battery life for pedometer or other fitness apps that use the accelerometer all day.
Alongside the M7 chip, Apple has also introduced new CoreMotion APIs that can take advantage of the M7 coprocessor to create improved fitness and activity apps that are unavailable on similar devices. The M7 coprocessor is able to measure and track all movement data, even when the phone is asleep, and because it's a secondary processor, it saves battery life while allowing pedometer-style apps to run in the background.
Nike has introduced the first new app that will take advantage of the technology. Nike+ Move is able to determine when a user is walking, driving, or stationary, and it works with the Nike Fuel movement ratings, integrating them into Game Center.
The iPhone 5s, which includes the M7 chip, will be available for purchase beginning on September 20. The phone will be priced at $199 for the 16GB version, with a 2-year contract.
At today’s special iPhone media event, Epic Games announced and demoed Infinity Blade 3, the final entry in its highly successful Infinity Blade trilogy. The game is running on the new OpenGL ES 3.0 standard, which is supported in the new 64-bit A7 chip features in the iPhone 5s.
Infinity Blade 3 was rumored to be in the works as of last month, with the previous two entries in the series earning various awards and accolades throughout the past few years. Infinity Blade 2 went free in celebration of the App Store’s fifth anniversary in July.
At its media event today, Apple introduced the new iPhone 5s. In line with expectations, the iPhone 5s will be the same size and design and the current iPhone 5 but will feature improved specifications and will be available in three colors: Silver, Gold, and Space Gray.
Internally, the iPhone 5s will feature a 64-bit A7 processor that will be up to twice as fast at CPU tasks. Another significant new feature is a "Touch ID" capacitive fingerprint sensor built into the home button that's capable of scanning sub-epidermal skin layers. Touch ID can be used to unlock an iPhone and authorize iTunes purchases.
Built into the home button, Touch ID uses a laser cut sapphire crystal, together with the capacitive touch sensor, to take a high-resolution image of your fingerprint and intelligently analyze it to provide accurate readings from any angle. Setting up Touch ID to recognize your fingerprint is easy, and every time you use it, it gets better. The Touch ID sensor recognizes the touch of a finger so the sensor is only activated when needed, preserving battery life. All fingerprint information is encrypted and stored securely in the Secure Enclave inside the A7 chip on the iPhone 5s; it’s never stored on Apple servers or backed up to iCloud. Touch ID can also be used as a secure way to approve purchases from the iTunes Store®, App Store or iBooks Store.
iOS developers will not get access to the users' fingerprint as a means of authentication, according to AllThingsD, which spoke to Apple SVP Phil Schiller. He declined to comment on whether that sort of access may come in the future.
The rear camera in the iPhone 5s has a new 5-element lens with an f/2.2 aperture and a sensor that is 15% larger than the current iPhone 5, as well as a dual-LED "True Tone" flash that will adapt to the existing lighting to provide better colors and more accurate skin tones. Other new camera features include Burst Mode, capable of capturing 10 pictures per second and automatically selecting the best shot, and Slo-Mo 720p video capture at 120 frames per second.
The iPhone 5s will cost $199, $299, and $399 for the 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB models respectively with a 2-year contract. Non-contract, unlocked devices will be available at launch for $649/$749/$849.
The iPhone 5s and the lower-cost iPhone 5c that was also announced today will be available in stores in the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, and the UK starting on September 20.
Apple today announced the new lower-priced iPhone 5c, replacing the iPhone 5 in Apple's phone lineup. The new device is available in five different colors -- green, yellow, blue, white, and pink -- in a polycarbonate design. The phone uses the same A6 processor and rear-facing camera as the iPhone 5. Apple posted a new product video, featuring Jony Ive, for the 5c.
"iPhone 5c is everything iPhone 5 was and more, in an all-new design packed with great features," said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "iPhone 5c is designed with a beautiful polycarbonate enclosure that looks and feels so solid in your hand."
The new phone includes some upgraded parts as well, including an improved front-facing FaceTime camera and support for more LTE bands.
The phone is made of what Apple calls a hard-coated polycarbonate, using a steel-reinforced interior that also serves as the antenna. The company also introduced a line of $29 cases that snap onto the back of iPhone 5c and come in pink, yellow, blue, green, white and black.
The iPhone 5c is available for preorder this Friday, September 13 for $99 in 16GB and 32GB for $199 with a two-year contract. It will go on sale Friday, September 20.
During today's iPhone media event, Apple announced that its iWork app suite, including Pages, Numbers, and Keynote will be provided for free to customers who purchase a new iOS device. iLife apps iPhoto and iMovie are also included for free, though it appears Garageband will not be bundled into the deal.
According to Apple, the software will be available for free with the purchase of a new iPad, iPhone, or fifth-generation iPod touch.
"We think that iWork is a really key advantage for our customers' productivity, and iPhoto and iMovie are great for creativity," said Tim Cook. "Almost all of our customers want these apps."
Pages, Numbers, and Keynote are normally a $9.99 download from the App Store, while iMovie and iPhoto are priced at $4.99.
At today's iPhone media event, Apple executives announced that iOS 7 will be released to the public on Wednesday September 18, two days before the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c are released.
Apple SVP Craig Federighi once again highlighted iOS 7's major redesign and the numerous new features it includes. He touched on Control Center, a revamped Notification Center, AirDrop, iTunes Radio, and new multitasking capabilities.
"iOS 7 is completely redesigned with an entirely new user interface and over 200 new features, so it's like getting a brand new device, but one that will still be instantly familiar to our users," said Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering. "Next month we'll be shipping our 700 millionth iOS device, and we're excited about what our hundreds of thousands of iOS developers are doing to bring great new features to their apps."
Apple also announced that iOS 7 will support the new 64-bit technologies introduced with the iPhone 5s, with all built-in apps re-engineered for 64-bit and iOS 7 will support both 32-bit and 64-bit apps.
The OS has been built to complement both the iPhone 5c's colors and the new internal capabilities of the iPhone 5s, including its Touch ID fingerprint sensor and camera features like automatic image stabilization, Burst Mode, and Slo-Mo 120 fps video.
iOS 7 will be available on September 18 for the iPhone 4 and later, the iPad 2 and later, the iPad mini, and the fifth-generation iPod touch.
Apple's highly anticipated September media event is being held today in Town Hall auditorium at the company's headquarters in Cupertino, California. The event begins at 10:00 AM Pacific Time / 1:00 PM Eastern Time, and Apple is expected to unveil new iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C models while also providing a final overview of iOS 7 before the redesigned operating system launches to the public.
Unlike the past several Apple media events and keynotes, it does not appear that the company will be offering a live video stream of today's event. Prior to other recent events, an "Apple Events" channel has appeared on the Apple TV and the company has promoted the live streams on its home page, but none of those indicators have appeared so far.
In addition, we will be updating this article with summary coverage and issuing Twitter updates through our @MacRumorsLive account as the event unfolds. Separate news stories regarding the event announcements will go out through our @MacRumors account.
Apple's online stores around the world are currently down in advance of the event.
During today's iPhone event, Apple announced that customers would be able to pre-order the colorful 
Apple's highly anticipated September media event is being held today in Town Hall auditorium at the company's headquarters in Cupertino, California. The event begins at 10:00 AM Pacific Time / 1:00 PM Eastern Time, and Apple is expected to unveil new 
