Dozens of lawsuits alleging that Apple intentionally slowed down older iPhone batteries to get customers to upgrade to newer models will likely be consolidated into one big court case, a US judicial panel has said.

The battery performance-related complaints filed against Apple will be heard at once during a hearing scheduled for 29 March in Atlanta, Georgia, the US Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation said, a commonplace decision for cases spanning multiple states.

Apple was accused of intentionally slowing down the performance of older iPhone handsets back in January, with people suggesting the Cupertino firm did it so users will be more likely to upgrade to the latest model out of sheer frustration.

Apple faces 59 putative class actions across 16 district courts in the US. The total includes 30 before Judge Edward J. Davila in the Northern District of California, which, according tocourt documents obtained by MacRumors, states the lawsuits will likely be centralised given their overlapping claims.

Apple has denied the accusations, saying it did slow down the batteries but only to make them able to run newer software. It has since cut the costs of replacement batteries for affected users and created a patch to prevent battery throttling on iOS.

The accusations arrived via research conducted by benchmark firm GeekBench, who looked into the theory after a Reddit thread suggested iPhone performance reduces as battery life drains.

The conclusion of the research was that while battery life is expected to dwindle the more a device is used due to increased recharging cycles, it shouldn't really affect performance.

So Geekbench took it upon itself to benchmark the performance of iPhone 6 and iPhone 7 devices running on different versions of iOS to see how the kernel density changes as the operating system is updated.

The firm discovered that the iPhone 6's score for iOS 10.2.0 didn't change in performance - but when it studied the iPhone 6 running iOS 10.2.1, the phone's performance peaked at the average performance score and several others peaked around some of the lower scores. It reported that there was even more of a disparity when the iPhone 6 was tested on the later version of iOS 11.2.0.

01/02/2018:Apple responds to US probes into battery slowdowns

Apple has again said it would neverintentionally "degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades," in response to theJustice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission's investigations into the firm's practices.

The company said it would roll out a software update that offers users more information about how their iPhone performance is affected as their devices age.

"We know that iPhones have become an important part of the daily lives of our customers and our intention was to improve the customer experience," the company said in a statement.

It has already offered discounted battery upgrades for iPhones that were suffering from performance problems, while promising to introduce a software feature in devices that shows battery health and recommends when a user should replace the battery in their device.

"These actions were taken to further assist our customers and help extend the life of their iPhones," Apple's statement said. "In addition, users will be able to see if the power management feature is being used to prevent unexpected shutdowns, and turn it off if they so choose. These features will be included in a developer release next month and a user release this spring."

Apple then went on to apologise again to those affected by the controversy.

"Our goal has always been to create products that our customers love. Making iPhones last as long as possible is an important part of that," Apple said."We have received questions from some government agencies and we are responding to them."

18/01/2018:Tim Cook: Users can turn off iPhone battery throttling in next iOS patch

Apple CEO Tim Cook has revealed that a future iOS update will allow users to switch off the battery throttling feature introduced to prevent system failures on older hardware, although he warned that this would increase the likelihood of unexpected crashes.

Speaking out on the battery issue, Cook added that the feature will become optional in next month's iOS developer build, with a public release scheduled shortly afterwards.

He added that Apple had the "purest" intentions when it came to limiting the power output of older batteries, although he admitted the company could have been more transparent with its customers.

"Our actions were all in service of the user, I can't stress that enough our actions were always the purest," said Cook, speaking to ABC News. "We've listened to the feedback very carefully and what we're doing now is... we're going to give people the visibility of the health of their battery, so it's very, very transparent."

He added that the company will tell users when it's reducing iPhone performance in order to reduce crashes, but that this can be toggled off.

"If you don't want it, you can turn it off," added Cook. "We don't recommend it, because we think people's iPhones are really important to them and you never can tell when something is so urgent."

In December Apple was accused of deliberately slowing down older iPhones after benchmark tests revealed a noticeable degradation in performance, with many believing the company was trying to pressure customers into buying newer models.

Apple later publicly addressed the accusations, admitting that a feature introduced in iOS 10.2.1 was indeed reducing the power output of older batteries, although this was done in order to protect devices from unexpected crashes as the hardware aged, it said.

The company later issued an apology for the debacle, but Cook remains adamant that customers were told about the feature when it first released.

"When we did put it out, we did say what it was, but I don't think a lot of people were paying attention," said Cook, speaking to ABC News. "Maybe we should have been clearer as well. We deeply apologise for anyone who thinks we had some other motivation."

Apple has faced criticisms from customers, regulators and government officials over its handling of the issue. US Senator and chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, John Thune, has probed Apple's complaint procedures and questioned whether the company will offer rebates to its customers, while eight lawsuits have also been filed in three US states.

French consumer watchdog DGCCRF has also launched an investigation into allegations the company operated a policy of planned obsolescence with its iPhones, something that if found to be true would carry a multi-billion dollar fine under French law.

On top of the battery issue, Apple has also faced criticisms over a string of software bugs recently discovered on iOS and MacOS High Sierra, and a number of botched patchesthat fixed one issue only to create another.

The latest bug has been described as a "Text Bomb", a crashing fault that can be triggered when a user sends a text message containing a specific link to a line of code, even if the user did not clink the link.

Apple has yet to comment on this latest problem.

10/01/2018:Now US Senate questions Apple over iPhone battery slowdowns

Apple is now facing questions from the US Senate over its recent admission that it deliberately throttled the power output of batteries in older iPhones, adding to legal pressures from lawsuits and an investigation by the French government.

Senator John Thune, chair of the Senate commerce committee, yesterday questioned the company's practices and its handling of the slowdown issue, in a letter sent to Apple CEO Tim Cook, seen by the Wall Street Journal.

The company has come under fire from customers, regulators and governments over the revelation that it deliberately reduced the power output of batteries in older phones, which resulted in lower CPU performance.

While some accused Apple of using planned obsolescence of older devices in order to spur customers to buy newer models, in December Apple said that the power management feature helps reduce the strain on older hardware ill-equipped to deal with the demands of modern software.

"We have never, and would never, do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades," an Apple spokesperson said at the time.

In a copy of the letter, seen by the WSJ, Thune asked how Apple has managed the complaints it has received from customers, and asked whether the company has considered offering full refunds to those customers who paid the full battery replacement cost before the reduced scheme came into effect.

"Apple's proposed solutions have prompted additional criticism from some customers, particularly its decision not to provide free replacement batteries," said Thune, imposing a deadline for answers by 23 January.

Apple announced it would offer customers an out-of-warranty subsidised battery replacement for $29, down from $79 (25, down from 79 in the UK), however, those who had already purchased a new battery earlier in the year, possibly as a result of Apple's throttling practice, do not qualify for the scheme.

Customers have also reported having to wait up to a week to schedule appointments at their local Apple Store, while others said that a supply shortage has meant the company has struggled to honour commitments to provide replacements.

French consumer watchdog DGCCRF, which is part of the government's finance ministry, yesterday said it was investigating whether the company deliberately deceived customers and operated "planned obsolescence" practices, which under French law carries a fine of up to 5% of annual sales.

With the majority of Apple iPhone customers currently using older phones from the iPhone 6, 6s and 7 ranges, even a small percentage of customers deciding to replace their batteries instead of upgrading could significantly impact sales of new models, said Barclay's analyst Mark Moskowitz earlier this week.

The company also faces eight lawsuits brought by customers, filed in courts in New York, Illinois and California.

09/01/2018:France investigates whether Apple slowed batteries to boost upgrades

A French prosecution team is reportedly investigating Apple's practices following consumer organisations' allegations of planned obsolescence of its iPhone products.

French consumer watchdog DGCCRF, which is part of the economy ministry, launched the preliminary investigation last Friday with the aim of discovering whether the US technology giant deliberately deceived its customers in order to sell more hardware, according to judicial sources speaking to Reuters.

Reports emerged in December that Apple was deliberately throttling batteries in older iPhones following the addition of a new power management feature in the iOS 10.2.1 update. Benchmark tests revealed this resulted in poorer performance from a device's processor, but Apple hadn't made it clear to users that the feature would reduce their phones' power output, nor did it explain why the feature was added.

Apple was initially suspected of doing this in an effort to push customers towards buying newer smartphones, but Apple later claimed it was to reduce the strain on older hardware that was unable to cope with demands from modern software.

The tech giant has since issued a rare apology for its handling of the battery issue, adding that it would never intentionally shorten the battery life of any Apple product.

France's investigation will seek to clarify whether Apple deliberately manipulated older products to spur demand on its newest range of smartphones, something that carries a fine of 5% of annual sales if a company is found guilty. In Apple's case, that would be a fine close to $15 billion given its most recent quarterly report.

IT Pro has contacted Apple for comment on the investigation.

Apple has been hit by multiple legal challenges following the company's acknowledgement of the battery issue, including a complaint by French consumer group HOP, which works to fight against planned obsolescence of products, and a number of lawsuits in the US that claim the company defrauded its customers.

The company has since launched a replacement scheme that allows users to apply for new batteries for devices outside of their warranties. It also reduced the price of the replacement from 79 to 25 in December, although it's strictly on a one-per-iPhone basis.

However, the fine print in the agreement says that if a user has had a replacement battery in the past year, the current hardware has to fail a diagnostic test in order to qualify for the replacement.

02/01/2018:Apple's $29 iPhone battery replacements are now available

Apple has said it will make its replacement batteries immediately available for iPhone customers, in an attempt to get in front of severe backlash over its throttling practices in older hardware.

Users with an iPhone 6 or a newer model are now able to purchase a new battery for their devices at a reduced price of $29, according to a letter to customers on 28th December. Apple's out-of-warranty battery replacement programme, which normally costs customers $79, will run worldwide at the reduced rate until December 2018.

Apple had previously said the new batteries wouldn't be available until late January, but development has proceeded far quicker than anticipated, according to a statement to TechCrunch.

"We expected to need more time to be ready, but we are happy to offer our customers the lower pricing right away," the statement read. "Initial supplies of some replacement batteries may be limited."

Apple was hit with a wave of public backlash after it was claimed the batteries on older iPhone models were being throttled in order to drive customers to upgrade to newer smartphones.

It was later discovered that iOS 10.2.1, released in February 2017, contained a feature that capped the power output of older, less capable batteries in an effort to prevent unexpected failures. The justification was that the older hardware was unable to support some of the features introduced in later iOS updates, however, the company was blasted for its lack of transparency.

While the rollout is ahead of schedule, Apple has made it clear initial supplies will be limited, so customers will need to act fast if they want to get their new batteries. Unfortunately, those customers who applied for a battery replacement before the announcement will not qualify for the $50 reduction.

Customers can begin the battery replacement process by contacting Apple directly through their customer service portals, or by visiting an Apple Store.

22/12/2017:Apple hit with legal action over iPhone performance slow-down

Apple is facing legal action following revelations that it does indeed slow down older phones to keep the devices alive for longer.

The tech giant was yesterday hit by a class action lawsuit, led by Stefan Bogdanovich and Dakota Speas, which cites "Breach of implied contract" and "Trepassto chattel" as the two complaints.

"As a result of Defendant's wrongful actions, Plaintiffs and Class Members had their phone slowed down, and thereby it interfered with Plaintiffs' and Class Members' use or possession of their iPhones, Plaintiffs and Class Members have otherwise suffered damages," the suit claims.

It is expected that other class action lawsuits are likely to follow on from this initial filing.

Earlier this week, Apple confirmed it slows down older iPhones that have lithium-ion batteries in order to prolong their life.

"Our goal is to deliver the best experience for customers, which includes overall performance and prolonging the life of their devices," the tech giant said in a statement seen byThe Verge.

"Lithium-ion batteries become less capable of supplying peak current demands when in cold conditions, have a low battery charge or as they age over time, which can result in the device unexpectedly shutting down to protect its electronic components.

"Last year we released a feature for iPhone 6, iPhone 6s and iPhone SE to smooth out the instantaneous peaks only when needed to prevent the device from unexpectedly shutting down during these conditions. We've now extended that feature to iPhone 7 with iOS 11.2, and plan to add support for other products in the future."

Replacing an old battery with a new one is assumed to return the phone to its former speed, as Reddit user krazydavid highlighted the difference in results after the battery was replaced in his iPhone 6 Plus. For his old battery, the Geekbench tests resulted in an 838 single-core and 1390 multi-core score. With the new battery, these scores shot to 1499 and 2579 respectively.

Furthermore, in a post from 2015 on Statista, Felix Richter found that worldwide Google searches for the term "iPhone slow" peaked when a new iPhone was released.

Image source: Statista

20/12/2017:iPhone battery problems? Apple accused of slowing down older iPhones

Apple has been accused of deliberately slowing down older iPhones, essentially forcing users to upgrade their handset.

So claims research, carried out by Geekbench, off the back of a Reddit thread that suggested iPhone performance reduces as battery life dwindles.

Although it's expected that battery life tends to dwindle as a device gets older, due to the increased volume of recharging cycles, associated performance shouldn't grind to a halt too.

Geekbench has benchmarked the performance of iPhone 6 and iPhone 7 devices running on different versions of iOS to see how the kernel density changes as the operating system is updated. It discovered that the iPhone 6's score for iOS 10.2.0 appears 'unimodal' (ie., doesn't change) in performance, but when it studied the iPhone 6 running iOS 10.2.1, the performance peaked around the average score and several other peaks around some of the lower scores. It reported that there was even more of a disparity when the iPhone 6 was tested on iOS 11.2.0.

For the iPhone 7, scores were pretty much identical across iOS 10.2.0, iOS 10.2.1, and iOS 11.1.2. However, when using iOS 11.2.0, the graph showed more peaks again, suggesting the performance is impacted the older the device becomes.

"First, it appears the problem is widespread, and will only get worse as phones (and their batteries) continue to age," Geekbench explained. "Second, the problem is due, in part, to a change in iOS. The difference between 10.2.0 and 10.2.1 is too abrupt to be just a function of battery condition."

Apple apparently rolled out an update to devices that limits the performance when battery life starts to dwindle, according to the Geekbench, because iPhone 6 devices, in particular, were shutting down unexpectedly even when the user had taken advantage of its battery replacement programme.

"Because degraded batteries last much less and end up with a lower voltage Apple's solution was to scale down CPU performance, it doesn't solve anything and is a bad experience but it's better than having your device shutdown at 40% when you need it the most," one Reddit user said.

Apple has admitted it implemented such an update to prevent devices shutting down unexpectedly, but didn't say whether this impacts the performance of the devices.

Updating iPhones and Android devices to the latest versions of their operating systems can cause battery life to fall by as much as three hours, according to consumer product researcherWhich?.

After updating a two-year-old iPhone 6 from iOS 8 to iOS 10, the battery drained 38 minutes faster than before,Which?said, putting overall battery life at 664 minutes. A Google Nexus 6 lost around three hours of continuous web browsing after updating from Android 6.0 Marshmallow to 7.0 Nougat.

It'ss not just battery life, as some software updates can take up considerably more hard drive space on some devices, the review found. Users with a MicrosoftSurface Pro 3 tabletwill lose almost 30GB of storage space if upgrading to Windows 10, enough for an entire photo album, according toWhich?.

Similarly, storage capacity on the Galaxy Tab S2 dropped from 24.03GB to 20.98GB after updating from Android 5.0 to Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

Infographic courtesy of Which?

"Our latest research shows that, while upgrades are meant to boost the performance of our phones and tablets, the opposite can actually prove to be true," said Richard Headland, magazine editor atWhich?.

"Given how much we rely on mobile devices, companies should do more to tell us about the possible downsides of updates, as well as the benefits."

Although updates are recommended by companies to improve security or stability,Which?claimed that providers should be more transparent when it comes to effects on device performance.

"They should also explore ways of allowing their customers to revert to the previous software if they don't like the new version, and are willing to forgo any new security features it may offer," saidWhich?in a statement.

IT Prohas approached Samsung, Apple for comment, but has yet to receive a reply.

In September the consumer watchdog published new research after receiving "hundreds" of complaints about Microsoft'sWindows 10update. Of 2,500 users surveyed, 12% ended up reverting back to previous versions, in some cases losing emails and files or complete hardware failure.

Since its release in September 2015, iOS 9 has brought multiple new features to Apple's devices both in the initial release and subsequent 9.x updates. Here you can find out all the latest news, features and information about Apple's latest mobile OS.

iOS 9 at-a-glance:

• General release was on 16 September
• Introduced split-screen for iPads, new keyboard shortcuts, and Siri upgrades
• iOS 9.2 was released on 8 December, containing general enhancements and bug fixes
• iOS 9.3 expected in Q1 2016

iOS 9 latest news

26/08/2016:Apple has rushed out an update designed to address critical security flaws that let hackers spy on iPhones, urging businesses and consumers alike to install it.

The Trident vulnerability lets hackers spy on your iPhone with one click, reading information from apps like Gmail, Facebook and WhatsApp.

It was first discovered yesterday by mobile security specialist Lookout, working with Citizen Lab, after a human rights activist in the UAE noticed suspicious messages on his iPhone and reported them to Citizen Lab.

Trident uses three previously unpatched security flaws in iOS to subtly install spyware on the iPhone, starting with SMS phishing messages that direct the user to a website that downloads malware onto their device.

The spyware copies the target's calls, texts, calendar and contacts, and can also activate the camera and microphone to spy on conversations.

However, Apple has issued a fix for Trident and other flaws in its latest iOS update, iOS 9.3.5. Users can upgrade to this today by going to Settings>General>Software Update, and selecting Install Now.

25/07/2016:Almost 90 per cent of iPhones and iPads now run iOS 9, according to Apple. The company released statistics on 18 July showing that the most recent edition of its mobile OS (excluding iOS 10, which is still in beta) is used by 86 per cent of devices, with a further 11 per cent running iOS 8, which was released in September 2014. Only three per cent use an earlier version of the OS.

In comparison, Google's latest version of Android, Marshmallow, is used by just 13.3 per cent of Android devices, according to Google's latest statistics. Its predecessor, Android 5 Lollipop, is used by a little over 35 per cent of devices, while 30.1 per cent use 2013's Android 4 KitKat OS. The remaining 21.5 per cent use an older version of Android.

iOS 9 is set to be superceded by iOS 10, which debuted at WWDC 2016 in June and is currently available as a beta testing version. Its general release is scheduled for this autumn, with a September launch date expected, alongside the iPhone 7.

23/06/2016:The third beta of iOS 9.3.3 has been seeded to developers and public beta testers.

iOS 9.3.2 is currently available on general release to consumers, but registered Apple developers and public beta testers have received the release of iOS 9.3.3 ahead of time to help ensure apps are still working properly, work out any bugs in the operating system and provide feedback to Apple.

This beta comes just two weeks after the previous beta release and is the third to be issued since testing began on 23 May. As it is a 9.3.x update, it will effectively be a bug fix and performance improvement update and will not introduce any new features. However, it's still important for users to upgrade if and when they can following the general release to ensure their mobile devices are as secure as possible, as is the case with all operating systems.

While 9.3.3 may be free of new features, iOS 10 is also currently with developers in beta form. It will be launched this autumn, likely alongside the iPhone 7, and has several new features including support for animations and a greater range of emojis in the Messaging app, improved Maps, the incorporation of AI into Photos to group fond memories together in a way that is similar to the Memories function on Facebook, and Apple Pay for online payments, although this will be restricted to certain trusted sites.

03/06/2016: iOS 9.3.3 is reported to have been jailbroken, according to reports.

According to Forbes, someone with a jailbroken device has managed to get the latest beta version of iOS, which could mean that the code allows jailbreaking.

Italian developer Luca Tedesco has claimed that he has successfully jailbroken a device with Apple's iOS 9.3.3 beta on board. Apparently iOS 9.3.1. and iOS 9.3.2 do not have any publicly available jailbreaks, which seems to suggest that Apple has been successful in keeping Jailbreak devices at bay.

With WWDC around the corner and iOS 10 expected to drop then, it has been speculated that jailbreakers are holding fire until the new operating system makes an appearence.

18/05/2016:There are reports that the latest update to iOS 9 is bricking the 9.7-inch iPad Pro.

According to MacRumors, after installing iOS 9.3.2, users have reported seeing an "Error 56" message which instructs them to connect their device to iTunes.

While not all 9.7-inch iPad Pros have had the error, the report said the issue was widespread and cited numerous messages on social networks as evidence of the problem. According to Apple support documents, the issue is a hardware one. The fix involves installing the latest version of iTunes, checking third-party software and attempting repeat resources.

The problem could lead to Apple issuing a patch for its latest update.

17/05/2016: Apple has released iOS 9.3.2, which includes a number of bug fixes for iPhone and iPad.

The release, which is likely to be one of the final updates before the arrival of iOS 10, is primarily a bug-fixing and performance revision.

Included in the update are fixes for an issue where some Bluetooth accessories could experience audio quality issues when paired to the iPhone SE, for an issue where looking up dictionary definitions could fail, and for an issue involving VoiceOver users using the Alex voice, where the device switches to a different voice to announce punctuation or spaces.

A problem that prevented MDM servers from installing custom B2B apps has been fixed.

The update also fixes an issue that prevented typing email addresses when using the Japanese Kana keyboard in Mail and Messages has also been addressed.

More information on this iOS update can be found on Apple's support page.

03/03/2016:Apple's upcoming iOS 9.3 upgrade will notify you if your employer is tracking your iPhone.

With lots of businesses now using mobile device management (MDM) services to monitor workers' devices, Apple's latest version of iOS will feature a message at the bottom of the lock screen, saying "This iPhone is managed by your organisation".

The move, reported by 9to5Mac and revealed on Reddit,gives users more transparency over their device privacy, with the About' page in Settings' also warning users, saying: "This iPhone is supervised. [Company name] can monitor your internet traffic and locate this device."

Apple offers its own MDM service to companies, so the announcement shows the device maker is trying to straddle the line between company control and employee freedom, but at least users will now be aware if their device is being monitored.

IT admins will also get more control over employees' iPhones with iOS 9.3, with features allowing them to prioritise apps they deem most important, and an MDM service giving them the power to control home screen layouts and notification settings, according to developer Steve Stroughton-Smith.

Other management features let IT approve certain URLs in Safari and set out text on the lock screen.

The move reinforces the tech giant's security credentials as it fights the FBI's attempts to weaken the iPhone's security, to make it easier to access data in criminal investigations.

16/02/2016:Apple Pay could arrive in China on Thursday, bringing the company's payment technology to the world's largest single smartphone market.

The service will be rolled out on Thursday 18 February, according to aReutersreport citing officials from both the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and China Guangfa Bankal, though Apple has yet to confirm the date.

Apple Pay has been somewhat delayed in its arrival to China but looks set to be a huge opportunity for the company. Not only is China the second biggest market for Apple's iPhone sales, its people are already well accustomed to mobile payments.

Last year, the total number of Chinese consumers paying for goods and services via their smartphones totalled 358 million. That's more than 15 times the number of people in the US using similar technology in 2015, according to data from eMarketer.

This provides a huge potential audience for Apple. First, however, it will have to beat the current market leaders - Tencent Holdings and Alibaba Group - who control most of China's mobile payments world between them.

20/01/2016:Code suggesting that the iPhone 7 will drop the headphone jack has been found in the latest iOS 9.3 beta 1.1 software release.

As reported by9to5Mac, Twitter user@kyoufujibayadiscovered code reading, 'Headphones.have.%sinput.NO.', appearing to confirm long-circulated rumours that Apple's next iPhone will opt for wireless audio solutions and Lighting adapter for connecting headphones and speakers.

13/01/2016:Three quarters of Apple devices now run iOS 9, just four months after it was released.

This is according to Apple's own App Store stats, based on which OSes are connecting to it, but if they are to be believed, the latest operating system is growing steadily, up from 70 per cent last month and 66 per cent the previous month.

12/01/2016:iOS 9.3, the latest version of Apple's mobile OS, has been seeded to developers, meaning it could soon be on its way to consumers.

Two key new features are Night Shift and private Notes. The former reduces the amount of blue light emitted by the device's screen, which has been shown to disrupt melatonin production and, therefore, sleep patterns, by shifting colours on the display towards the warmer end of the spectrum.

Additional privacy settings on Notes - the built-in note taking tool for iOS and Mac OS - allow users to lock entries that contain very sensitive data, such as financial details or medical data, with a password or Touch ID. Additional new features in Notes include the ability to sort entries by date created, date modified, or alphabetically.

There are also new features being introduced in iOS in Education in 9.3, including iPad sharing, Apple School Manager mobile device management (MDM) software, a new classroom app and a new identity management tool.

There are also updates to the News app, meaning the suggestions in For You will be "better tailored to your particular interests", according to Apple.

Health has had a few tweaks, including a new dashboard. The app also displays stand, move and exercise data, as well as users' goals.

Finally, there are additional CarPlay features. New and For You suggestions from Apple Music will be displayed on the head unit's screen and the Nearby service will, as the name suggests, inform the driver of car parks, restaurants, petrol stations and other significant locations nearby.

It took a little over a month for iOS 9.2 to make it from first developer beta to full release (with an additional three developer betas in between), meaning we could see iOS 9.3 released to the general public by the end of February.

09/12/2015: iOS 9.2 has come out of beta and is available to download for iPhone and iPad users.

As part of a slew of updates from Apple, including OS X, WatchOS, and tvOS, iOS 9.2 now improves Apple Music, iBooks and iOS Mail apps and bug fixes.

Improvements to Apple Music makes it easier toharmonise your iCloud Music Library with the streaming service, meaning users can now seewhether or not any song has been downloaded, and then download whole albums or playlists.

iBooks now supports 3D Touch on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

Mail now supports Mail Drop for large attachments as well as a number of bug fixes for the mail client. There is also Siri support for Arabic and a new Top Stories section in the News app.

There are also stability improvements for Safari and Podcasts.

30/10/2015:iOS 9.2 is now available to public beta testers, three days after it was opened up to developers. The release, which is available as a 1.6GB over-the-air update to those already enrolled in the beta program, has several bug fixes and update to the Safari View Controller that introduces support for third-party extensions, such as password managers.

In tandem with the beta release of iOS 9.2, Apple has decommissioned iOS 9.0.2, meaning it is no longer possible to downgrade to any version of the OS earlier than iOS 9.1, which was released on 21 October.

27/10/2015:A lawsuit has been filed against Apple by a couple in Florida, claiming that a feature present in iOS 9 caused them to exceed their wireless data cap, reports ComputerWorld.

The problem occurred, the couple claim, because of the Wi-Fi Assist feature - which switches the phone to a cellular connection if Wi-Fi signal is weak - automatically enabled with iOS 9.

The lawsuit reads: "Defendant failed to disclose to consumers that this automatic switch to cellular data caused by an activated Wi-Fi Assist (the default setting) may result in exceeding the data capacity allowed under their phone plans. This is especially true as there is no warning or disclosure when the phone switches from Wi-Fi to cellular data."

23/10/2015:After investigating claims that their app for iOS was draining users' battery life, Facebook has released an update to assuage the issue.

Rather than offer details on the new changes, the App Store release notes remain vague, promising a better experience and updates every two weeks. However, Facebook's Engineering Manager Ari Grant provided more information on the fixes in a public post.

The first issue identified was a CPU spina loop that doesn't perform a useful taskin the app's network code which drained battery life because of the repeated processing.

The second problem had to do with the way audio sessions were managed. In some instances, audio sessions remained open after viewing videosas though the audio was playing silently in the backgroundafter exiting the app. Although the app isn't doing anything, battery life was drained because the app remained active in the background.

Changes have been made to the app and the update is available for download today, but Grant's statement seems to imply that additional fixes are in the works. In relation to the CPU spin, he said, "the version released today has some improvements that should start making this better." The issue with audio sessions has been fixed, though, and background audio has been removed completely.

Grant made a point of mentioning that the issues addressed were not caused by any location features and reiterated that Facebook does not access device location without permission within the app.

Update the iOS Facebook app as soon as possible to eliminate unintended battery drain.

With the announcement of bi-monthly updates and Grant's allusions to other potential issues, it seems reasonable to look forward to future battery life improvements.

iOS 9 release date

Apple unveiled iOS 9 at WWDC 2015, but it was only released three months later on 16 September, alongside the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and iPad Pro.

Since then it has received multiple updates, having just hit the first developer preview for version 9.3 in early January, which will likely be generally available in February.

While the next major release of iOS - iOS 10 - is expected to be revealed in June this year and released in September, iOS 9 will likely continue to receive incremental updates until then.

iOS 9 supports five generations of iPhone, from the iPhone 4s to the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, as well as all four generations of the iPad mini, iPad 2, 3 and 4, iPad Air and iPad Air 2, the iPad Pro, and fifth and sixth generation iPod Touch.

iOS 9 features

iOS 9 apps

iOS 9 features a brand new 'News' app, which will act as an aggregator similar to Flipboard or News Republic. The app will pull content from various online sources based on the user's preselected reading preferences, with embedded content like images, sound, and video.

It also features Health, which was first introduced in iOS 8 and, with iOS 9.3, can now show stand, move and exercise data, as well as users' goals, and Notes has been given a lick of paint - adding sketches, to-do lists, secure notes and more.

The Watch app is also pre-loaded, as it has been since the release of iOS 8.2 in early 2015, as is Maps, which now includes public transport data for certain cities (currently limited to London in the UK).

Wallet, which incorporates Apple Pay, also comes as standard, as well as Music, which replaced iTunes and incorporates both users' iTunes library, the Apple Music streaming service, and Beats Radio.

Old stalwarts like weather, reminders, iBooks, Podcasts and FaceTime are all also present and correct.

iOS 9 Siri and search

One of the features updated for iOS 9 is Siri, with anonymous search, a far lower word error rate, and a universal search screen. Siri will now be context sensitive, much likeAndroid Marshmallow's Now on Tap.

Asking Siri to 'remind me about this' while reading a web page or iMessage conversation will fill in the reminder description with details culled from that web page or the conversation and provide a link back to the relevant app.

iOS 9 also offers more in-depth search. When a user types in the search field, iOS 9's search function can predict what they want to see. For example, typing in "weather" will show the local weather forecast before the user has finished typing, as well as offering links to relevant apps and websites. Similarly, typing in the name of a sports team will bring up the results from its latest fixture, although it must be a quite well-known team - Manchester United works, Luton Town doesn't.

Additionally, even before the user has started typing, the search page will display Siri Suggestions for commonly used contacts and frequently used apps. The Nearby feature of Maps is also available, with shortcuts to Lunch, Coffee, Shopping and Petrol. The latest news headlines are also displayed.

Split-screen for iPad

For iPad, iOS 9 enhances the experience for enterprise users, with an improved keyboard multitasking - all designed for using the device at work.

"The iPad is a transformational device," said Craig Federighi, Apple's VP of Software Engineering, when announcing iOS 9 at WWDC 2015.

Using the Slide Over feature, swiping your finger in from the edge of the screen will allow you to quickly see a second app without having to leave the app you're currently using. Expanding upon this is Split-Screen, users will be able to use two apps onscreen at the same time, rather than having to switch between them.

Holding two fingers down on the keyboard will allow you to move the cursor without having to use the fiddly text caret as with current versions of iOS.

A feature that will be familiar to Samsung Galaxy users is the ability to play a video on top of another app in a small resizable and moveable window.

All of the multitasking features will be available on the iPad Air, iPad Mini 2 and newer, except for Split-screen, which can only be used on iPad Air 2 and iPad Pro.

iOS 9 keyboards

Apple's onscreen keyboard will have new shortcuts in the Quick Type predictions bar for copying, cutting and pasting as well as formatting text. Users of Lightning and Bluetooth keyboards will also get new shortcuts such as an OS X-style Cmd-Tab app switcher. These keyboard-related features are, however, exclusive to iPad and not coming to the iPhone.

iOS 9 memory requirements and battery life

iPhone users have previously complained about the amount of free space required when moving from one version of iOS to another. Apple has remedied this with iOS 9, meaning just 1.3GB of available space is required, compared with the 4.6GB needed to upgrade to iOS 8.

Power users will be particularly pleased to hear that Apple has focused a great deal of efforts on battery life with iOS 9. From the get go, this will give users an extra one hour of typical use, based on a full charge, according toFederighi.

But the battery life good news doesn't stop there. There is a new low power mode in iOS 9 that "pulls levers you didn't even know existed" to provide an additional three hours of juice on top of the bonus hour already delivered.

The back story

The new iOS was previously codenamed Monarch. It was expected prior to the event that the new iOS would improve stability and optimisation for Apple devices, sporting various new features but focusing primarily on eradicating some of the bugs and performance issues present in iOS 8.

Back in January, Apple was rumoured to be beta testing iOS 9, despite the previous iteration of its mobile operating system having only been released the previous September.

Previous to this, MacWorld reported that various analytics software was displaying searches and clicks that appeared to have originated from an operating system called 9.0'. This activity signalled that a prototype of the software was being used on Apple devices, possibly by employees.

The iOS 8 release was plagued with issues and bugs, and some users even took to legal action against Apple due to the update taking up too much space (19 per cent) on the 16GB iPhone 6.

This article was last updated on 12/01/16 to reflect new information.

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are fantastic devices, which are largely without fault. However, nothing in life is perfect all of the time, so here are our handy tips and tricks for making your experience with either device as well as the latest iPads that little bit better.

Apple tablets and smartphones now ship with iOS 9 as their default operating system, and the latest OS offers plenty of opportunities to play around with the screen display, device security, and your input settings.

One useful inclusion in iOS 9 is the 'Search Settings' field in the Settings menu. This tool lets you search for a specific setting instead of scrolling through endless menus on your device.

A good way to avoid annoying your friends in the pub, or co-workers at lunch, is to turn off the click sound on your keyboard via Settings > Sounds > Keyboard Clicks this is something we'd strongly advise you do.

Before we really get started, we wanted to drop in a little bonus tip for when you're trying to send large attachments via email on the iPhone - something that's tricky to do but that has a very easy fix.

iPhone 6/6 Plus tips: sending large emails

If you're on version iOS 9.2 or later, OS X's Mail Drop feature is now availabe on your mobile device, meaning you can send huge attachments (up to 5GB) via iCloud.

Don't worry about trying to search this function on your iPhone or iPad - it comes up as an option automatically when you try to attach a very large file to your email. A pop-up window simply asks you if you'd prefer to send the file in Mail Drop.

iPhone 6/6 Plus tips: top five essential apps

Apps are arguably the most important part of any smartphone. Naturally, the first thing you'll want to do with a new handset is fill it up with Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat and the like, but once you've done that, here are the five apps we think are absolutely essential.

Google Maps

One of the biggest benefits of the smartphone revolution is never having to get lost again. Thanks to GPS, we can find out exactly where we are at any given moment. However, Apple's Maps service pales in comparison to Google's far superior offering. As well as walking and driving directions, it'll even do public transport! Ace.

Dropbox

Dropbox's internet file-sharing service has proved invaluable to many users, both in business spaces and at home. With Dropbox also beefing up its feature-set for iOS 8, there's really no reason not to get on board with cloud storage. Dropbox is currently the most popular consumer service, but rivals like Box and Google Drive are also equally slick.

Silent Phone and Text

Data privacy is an increasing concern among those who use their smartphones for business. If you're handling sensitive information, we'd recommend outfitting your device with encryption apps. We're fans of Silent Circle's Silent Phone and Silent Text apps, for secure voice, video and SMS communication.

Feedly

No one wants to be the last to know about the latest news, and Feedly is a great way to keep on top of developments. Add your favourite sites, and all their latest news and articles will be displayed for you in the app. You can read them at your leisure, share or save them, and divide them into specific categories.

Evernote

When it comes list-making, quick memos and sharing projects with colleagues or friends, Evernote is among the finest note-taking apps you'll find. Using its sturdy iOS app on its basic (free) plan gives you access to cross-device syncing, the ability to share notes and store your web clippings. It's plus and premium tiers offer much, but you can do some much with the service in its basic form from storing helpful templates to managing entire projects that this digital notebook is an essential app.

iPhone 6/6 Plus tips: security and privacy

1) Setup Touch ID and a strong password

Everyone wants their device to be as secure as possible. When you're setting up the iPhone 6 it will ask you if you want to enable Touch ID we recommend doing this as it's simple and effective.

You'll also be prompted to set up a 4-digit passcode as default but you should take steps to beef this up.

Let's put it into context. Say you're on a train and the person looking over your shoulder sees you tap in your 4-digit pin. Now if this unscrupulous so-and-so happens to be a thief, you'll have a problem as they'll know the passcode to access your device once they pinch it.

To make it harder for people to access your device Go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode and then switch off Simple Passcode'. You'll be prompted to enter a longer 6-digit password with the ability to use alphanumeric characters. We recommend using three memorable words as a long password is a strong password (Click here for more tips on a secure password).

Using a long password may seem like a drag but, with Touch ID enabled, most of the time you'll be unlocking the device or paying for apps via a thumbprint. The strong password is there to give you peace of mind if the device ever goes missing.

There's also another option for users who carry around sensitive information on the device. You can set the device to wipe all data if the passcode is entered incorrectly 10 times. This is a nice failsafe and can be activated via Settings > Touch ID & Passcode > Erase Data.

2) Stop your iPhone (or iPad) from tracking you

Ever wondered where your phone gets that handy navigation and road condition information when you glance at the Notifications Center at different times of the day? It gets it by tracking your movements whenever you go provided you are connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot, such as at home, work, a coffee shop or even the Tube network.

Though this can have benefits, if you'd prefer to stop your phone tracking your frequently visited locations, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services and then Frequent Locations. From there, turn the option Off. For added privacy, hit the Clear History button, too.

3) Enable backup

The ability to backup your device is useful if you ever lose it as you can sync the new device and pick up where you left off.

Go to Settings > iCloud > Backup to enable it. When your phone is plugged into a power supply and connected to Wi-Fi, all documents, accounts, photos and settings will be backed up.

4) Hide photos

We've all had that awkward moment. Showing a friend or relative a few pictures in our camera roll and then suddenly swiping to an embarrassing picture. In iOS 9 it's possible to hide those private photos by pressing and holding it and then tapping Hide'. This means it will no longer show up in your camera roll and will be in its own Hidden folder'.

iPhone 6/6 Plus tips: accessibility and customisation

5) Get a new keyboard

Apple introduced its own QuickType' predictive text keyboard, but this takes time to adjust to your usage pattern. It's possible to download a third-party keyboard and our personal favourite is Swype (99p). This lets you drag your finger across the screen to type out words and has a great prediction feature.

SwiftKey is also a popular keyboard on Android, but so far its reviews aren't quite as good as Swype on iOS 9.

If you want to use a third-party keyboard as your primary form of input you need to go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Edit and then drag it to the top of the list.

6) Minimise email message

It's possible to minimise an email you're composing by swiping down from the top of the message. This allows you to check other emails for any important information or to copy an address. Once you're ready to continue with your message just tap on the "New Message" tab at the bottom of the screen.

7) Multitasking with videos or FaceTime on iPad

In our modern reality of multiple screens, multiple email accounts and multiple jobs, multitasking is pretty much de facto for us all. One of the new additions to iOS 9 on iPad is the ability to view another app while simultaneously seeing a FaceTime call or video in a smaller picture-in-picture screen.

To activate the feature, while holding a FaceTime call or viewing a video press the Home button or tap the Picture-in-Picture button to resize the viewing window. From here, you can then flick the smaller screen to move it about the main screen.

Currently, this feature is only available on iPad Air, Air 2, iPad Mini 2, 3 and 4, and iPad Pro. Great for when you need to finish that work email be can't resist watching the last 10 minutes of your favourite TV programme.

8) Get out of a group iMessage thread

iPhone 6 users can now opt out of iMessage threads in group chat. To do this, launch the iMessage app, select the group you want to opt out of. Then tap on Details in the top right-hand corner and choose "Leave this conversation". The only drawback is this only works when all people on the thread are iMessage users.

9) Use Siri-hands free

Up to now Siri has always had to be activated by pressing and holding the Home button. To make it easier to use iPhone in a car, Apple now lets you interact with Siri hands-free when the device is plugged into a power source.

Go to Settings > General > Siri > Allow Hey Siri' to activate this.

10) Train Siri

Siri is able to learn who your contacts are so - for example - you can tell her "Jeff is my dad" and then ask her to "send a message to dad".

It's also possible to correct any pronunciations - by saying "that's not how you pronounce it", ask Siri to identify songs as well as search the web.

11) Speak Screen

A useful option to have when your hands are tied. It's possible to get Siri to read back things on the screen.

To activate this mode go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Speech and turn on Speak Screen.

Then tell Siri to "Speak screen."

12) Optimise the display

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are bigger handsets, so there's an option to enlarge the icons and bold the text.

To do this go to Go to Settings > Display & Brightness and toggle the relevant options.

We also like the option to bold text - Settings > Accessibility > Bold.

13) Use Spotlight

iOS 9 has an excellent universal search feature. Swipe down from halfway on the home screen to activate Spotlight.

This searches your device, Maps, the web and the App Store.

14) Access the top of the screen

All iPhones were designed to be used with one hand. But as the screen sizes have increased, Apple has introduced its Reachability feature. Top reach the top of the screen, simply tap the home button twice (not press it twice) and the screen shifts down. You can make a selection and the screen will then pop back up afterwards.

iPhone 6/6 Plus tips: notifications

15) Setup emails/notifications

Adding accounts on the iPhone is simple, with all the popular services from Gmail to Exchange accepted. Go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars to configure them.

Don't forget to fine-tune alerts. It's possible to choose how many lines of a message are previewed in notifications - personally, I like 4 lines - but you can play around and see what suits you. It's also useful to enabled the Show To/Cc label' if you're used to sending emails to multiple recipients.

Going to Settings > Notifications > Mail allows you to choose how you are alerted about messages. You can choose none, banners or alerts and also whether you want messages to appear on your lock screen.

16) Email thread alert

Keeping on top of emails can be a headache at the best of times especially when you're on the move.

The Mail app has a handy Notify Me' feature to help make sure you don't miss the most important emails. This is particularly useful when you're collaborating on a project to deadline or trying to organise meetings.

To activate this go into the email, click on the Flag at the bottom then Notify Me. The email thread will then have an orange blob next to it and a little bell. Every time someone responds to the thread you get a notification.

If you want to be absolutely sure you never miss a notification from Notify Me' threads go to Settings > Notifications > Mail > Thread Notifications and change the notification type to Alerts'. This way the message will remain on screen until you dismiss it so you won't overlook it accidentally.

17) Change vibration settings

The vibration on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus is so forceful, it verges on the annoying.

It's possible to change the vibration alert or even create a customised version. Go to Settings > Sounds > Ringtone > Vibration. From here you can choose another alert or tap out your own, less aggressive tone.

18) Reply to texts from any app

It's possible to respond to text messages from any app when you get a banner notification. If you swipe down from the top it's possible to tap out a reply and send it.

You have to be quick though because the ability to send a quick reply disappears along with the banner notification.

19) Turn off repeat alerts

On the iPhone, Message alerts are configured to repeat after two minutes. This can trick you into thinking you have a new message. Go to Settings > Notifications > Messages and turn 'Repeat Alerts' to never.

20) Use the flash as notification light

As there is no notification light on the iPhone, sometimes if can be difficult to tell if you have a message. It's possible to get the camera flash to blink when you have messages. To activate this, go to Settings > Accessibility > LED flash for Alerts.

iPhone 6/6 Plus tips: data and networks

21) Keep on top of Location settings

iOS 9 makes it easier to keep track of your privacy/location settings. When you open an app like weather or maps for the first time, it will ask permission to "use your location" in the background. It's best to click 'not allow' as you don't want apps sucking up battery life unnecessarily.

To check which apps are able to access your whereabouts - go to Settings > Privacy. From here it's possible to see which apps have access to information such as Contacts, Calendar info, photos etc.

The best thing about the Location settings is the ability to switch it off - and that's what we'd recommend. This will save battery and you can always turn on GPS for the times when you need turn-by-turn directions.

22) Find your iPhone

You can check whether this is activated by going to Settings > iCloud > Find my iPhone. The beautiful (and slightly worrying) thing is that even if your Location setting is Off' you can override the setting through 'Lost Mode' from iCloud.com.

Activating this automatically switches on Location tracking and also allows you to lock the phone and display a message on the screen along with a contact number.

It's also worth turning on the Send Last Location' setting, as this will tell you the last known whereabouts of the device before the battery died.

23) Use Safari's settings

Safari has plenty of new features. You can now request desktop websites by tapping on the URL, and then flicking down to see an option to Request Desktop site'.

If you accidentally close a tab it's possible to reopen it by pressing and holding the +' button. This brings up a list of recently closed windows.

Apple has also added Private browsing mode, but be careful. If you don't close individual tabs, the next time Safari is opened you could be embarrassed as the web pages will automatically load.

24) Limit background data downloads

This is a pretty simple setting, which can help to save battery life, especially if you've got dozens of apps. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and make sure non-critical apps are not pulling through data.

Most users won't need Stocks, Weather and Podcasts running in the background - whereas Mail and instant messages are vital. Remember to check back here periodically once you've downloaded a few apps to make sure nothing unnecessary is sucking the battery.

iPhone 6/6 Plus tips: battery

25) Charge your iPhone 6/6 Plus faster

Both iLounge and MacRumours have corroborated that it's possible to charge the latest iPhones faster with an iPad adaptor. The iPhones ship with 1 Amp chargers whereas the iPads double the capacity (2.1 Amps).

This doesn't appear to cause any damage (unlike the false report last year that microwaving an iPhone 6 would rapidly return it to full charge), but just make sure you don't do any intensive tasks while charging as you'll generate a lot of heat.

According to estimates, the iPhone 6 can get to full charge in approximately two hours with the iPad adaptor.

26) Check battery usage

The battery percentage is off by default and we'd recommend keeping it this way as this can create a sense of paranoia as you constantly keep checking battery life.

A useful feature is the ability to check which apps are draining battery life. Go to Settings > General > Usage > Battery Usage and you'll see a list. You can then close anything sucking up too much power.

27) What to do when you have a low battery?

There is no "power saving mode" to activate in iOS. But when you are running low on juice there are things you can do to conserve energy.

The display is usually the source of power drain so go to Settings > General > Accessibility and either Invert Colours' or choose Greyscale'. It also helps to turn down the brightness.

Using 4G also sucks up power - so this can be temporarily disabled via Settings > Mobile > Enable 4G. And don't forget you can also switch off Background refresh' completely until you are fully charged.

iPhone 6/6 Plus tips: camera

28) Burst Mode & Time Lapse

Holding down the shutter button will trigger burst mode and give you a running count of how many pictures you're taking.

It's also possible to record a time-lapse video within iOS 9 - handy if you want to check who's been pitching cookies from the jar.

29) Manually adjust exposure

Tapping on the screen to take a picture will not only refocus, it will also bring up a little bar allowing you to increase or decrease the exposure levels.

30) Record smoother video

The iPhone 6 has some impressive video recording chops, more so when a high frame rate is used. This doubles the number of frames per second from 30 to 60. To enable this, tap on the Photos and Camera option within the main Settings, and set Record video at 60 FPS.

31) Easily select multiple photos

Selecting more than one photo in the Photos app involves a tedious amount of tapping tapping on each individual photo, over and over again, until you've selected all the ones you want to share or delete.

It doesn't have to be this way though. Tap the Select button in the upper right hand corner of the Photos app. Then simply slide your finger over the photos you want in a single smooth motion to select them. This even works non-contiguously so you can slide your finger over one block of photos to select them, then scroll through to another part of your camera roll or album to select another bunch.

This slick new interface method is making its way to other apps the same trick also works in Google Photos, for example. The selection action and reaction animations aren't as smooth in Google Photos as they are in the stock Apple photos app, but it's still a worthwhile trick to know.

This article was originally published on the 24/09/2014 (related to iOS 8) and has been updated multiple times (most recently on the 30/6/2016, with tweaks to reflect iOS 9's changes).

Apple has unveiled the iPhone SE - a 4in alternative to its flagship iPhone 6s and 6s Plus phablets.

Fans have been requesting a return to handsets like the iPhone 4s and 5s over since Apple launched its larger iPhone 6 range, with the new iPhone SE stacking up against its bigger stablemates surprisingly well.

Display and body

The biggest difference between Apple's flagship iPhones and the new iPhone SE is obviously the size. The new model marks the company's first return to the older 4in size since the iPhone 5s, two generations ago.

For many, the 4.7in display of the iPhone 6 and 6s is just too large, hence why a return to form was so highly requested. However, while the screen has shrunk in size, Apple has ensured that it doesn't also drop in quality, and both devices have high pixel densities of 326ppi.

The SE is virtually identical to the 5s in terms of appearance. It's still got flat, chamfered edges, rather than the iPhone 6's rounded curves, and it's even got the exact same weight and dimensions.

Which one you prefer is ultimately a matter of personal taste, but in our experience, the iPhone 6's larger size makes it that touch more slippery to hold than the 5s and thus the SE, especially for those with smaller hands.

Price

The iPhone SE is touted as being Apple's most affordable new iPhone yet, clocking in at just 359 inc VAT for the 16GB option. While that's still not cheap compared to some Android competitors, it's a remarkable steal considering that the SE supposedly has the same performance as the 6s.

The 16GB 6s model, by contrast will set you back 539 inc VAT - a clear 200 more expensive. You can save some money by opting for the 459 iPhone 6, but you'll still be paying over 100 more than you would for the SE, and you'll almost certainly be getting slower performance too.

If the iPhone SE's performance is as good as Apple claims - and there's no reason to suspect otherwise - it really is a rather phenomenal deal.

Processor and storage

Given the iPhone SE's size and price-point, many manufacturers may have been tempted to skimp on the device's internal components. In this case, however, Apple has outdone itself, squeezing the iPhone 6s' A9 and M9 processors into the SE.

The company is claiming the iPhone SE delivers equal performance to its flagship stablemate the iPhone 6s, and double that of the iPhone 5s. Given this, we'd imagine it has the same 2GB RAM allocation as the 6s, although we won't know for sure until we can fully test it.

Given the more powerful processor, the SE is almost certain to outperform the iPhone 6, if only because it has a smaller, lower resolution screen to drive. While the iPhone 6 is still a very capable smartphone, it'll likely be outsped by the new arrival.

Apple consistently produces some of the best-performing devices on the market, and we'd be surprised if this changed significantly with the iPhone SE, but we won't be able to form a truly accurate comparison until we can run our own benchmarks.

Annoyingly Apple has not retained the 5s' 32GB storage option. Instead, it's followed the iPhone 6's lead in jumping straight from 16GB to 64GB. It's a shame one of the richest and most powerful technology companies, so adept at wringing every last drop of value out of its component suppliers, can't drive economics of scale down low enough to raise the base level of storage.

Camera, wireless and battery

As the iPhone SE is essentially a diminutive iPhone 6s, it carries all the key connectivity features you'd expect from its big brother. It's got NFC with built-in Apple Pay support and 802.11ac Wi-Fi.

It's also got the iPhone 6s' superlative rear camera, which will be a relief for any photographers. The snapper on the 6s is one of the best we've tested, and includes a 12MP sensor, high quality slow motion video, a reasonably flattering True Tone flash and 4K video recording.

Apple claims the SE has roughly the same battery life as the iPhone 6s too, but we can't verify this without testing. The screen is smaller, and therefore less power-hungry, but there's also less room to fit a battery into, so we'll have to wait and see.

Preliminary conclusions

The iPhone SE is what iPhone 5s fans have been wanting for years -- all the upgrades and innovations of the 6 and 6s, fitted into a more comfortable 4in package. If you like the look of the more recent iPhones on paper, but find them tricky to actually use, you should be very excited indeed.

Update:The beta version of iOS 9 has been available to everyone in July if they had enrolled in Apple's free public beta program. It features many re-designed built-in apps and a couple of new ones to boot. It also manages to wedge a few more features into the iPad.

Among the new features iOS 9 brings are intelligent search and an improved version of Siri. There are performance improvements and transit directions in Apple Maps. The OS is slated for release in September.

iOS 8was released alongside an update to OS X (10.10.3). Among the changes, updates and bug fixes are; improved performance to app launches, responsiveness, messages, Wi-Fi and Control Center.

It also fixes a number of issues releateding to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth such as where a user could be continuously prompted for login credentials, intermittant disconnection from Wi-Fi and audio playback not working for some Bluetooth speakers.

There is also the introduction of aredesigned Emoji keyboard with over 300 new characters and an optimised version of the iCloud Photo Library that works with the new Photos app in OS X 10.10.3.

The update has also quietly introduced WI-Fi calling. This will currently work for users on EE, othermobile operators are set to follow over the next few months.

The iOS 8.2 update introduced a host of tweaks and bug fixes from previous updates, including stability fixes for Mail, Music and Maps Flyovers. It also features fixes for iTunes syncing errors, problems with Exchange accounts, and various improvements to Apple's Health app.

Those anxiously awaiting the arrival of Apple's first wearable later next month will also be gratified to know that iOS 8.2 includes support for the Apple Watch. This means that right out of the box, fully-updated devices should be able to integrate with the watch with no problems.

In case you missed it, the earlier iOS 8.1 update also returned a much-missed feature to the iPhone and iPad stable. The Camera Roll is now back, available in the Photos app and the My Photo Stream album if you haven't enabled iCloud Photo Library. For those new to iOS, Camera Roll is a continuous, scrolling list of every image and video in your Apple device's library, and was a favourite feature of selfie enthusiasts everywhere.

For tips on getting to grips with iOS 8, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, or just iPhones in general, check out our list of the 25 top tips and essential apps.

Let's get the bad news out of the way. Despite Apple claiming iOS 8 works on the iPhone 4s, iPad 2 and iPad mini (1st gen) we don't advise updating them.

These devices use the aging A5 processor and are limited to 512MB of RAM. After updating our 4s we found tasks like typing and switching between apps became sluggish. Plus Apple has had to axe Handoff for apps and AirDrop to get iOS 8 working on the older models, so you won't get the best experience.

If you've got an iOS device released in 2013 or beyond there shouldn't be any problems as these products have 1GB RAM and faster processors.

Once you've got your hands on a device capable of running iOS 8 without stuttering, you're in for a treat. Here's what you can expect...

Dropbox problems fixed?There have been numerous problems with Dropbox in iOS 8, including crashing, and duplicate photo uploads. However, the latest update seems to have remedied these as we didn't experience any problem.

1) Default iOS keyboard is revamped

The iOS keyboard has always seemed primitive when compared the multitude of options on Android. iOS 8 introduces QuickType' - a keyboard with predictive text capabilities.

As you type, a small bar at the top of the keyboard displays three word suggestions you can tap in order to select the appropriate word. Initially, we found ourselves typing words out in full out of habit but using the predictive text option started to feel natural.

QuickType is intelligent and context-sensitive. So if you're typing an email to your boss it'll suggest formal words, and recommend words like awesome', when you're typing messages to friends . This is a learning process, so isn't something we can assess so soon after release.

A massive change is the ability to install third-party keyboard apps on iOS 8. Popular Android apps such as SwiftKey and Swype are already in the App Store. The ability to pick a different keyboard will be welcomed by many users and should help to cut down the infamous iPhone autocorrect memes.

2) MDM is beefed up

Celebrities may be worried about storing compromising photos on their iPhones, but iOS 8 provides good security features for business users. The mobile device management (MDM) features in iOS 8 now allow admins to specify which apps are used to open documents downloaded via the Safari browser or the new iCloud Drive. They cannow check the date of the most recent back-up to avoid overwriting important data or files, too.

S/MIME encryption is available for individual messages, and it's also possible to highlight emails from addresses outside your organisation.

3) Mail app gets swipe gestures

The Mail app has been modified, with swiping gestures now allowing you to organise messages. Swiping right on a message marks it as unread, whereas a flick left allows you to flag an important message or delete it. We did find these gestures to be a sensitive, accidentally deleting emails when left-swiping too quickly.

Another useful option is the ability to organise messages into VIP threads'. These messages can be stored in a special VIP inbox for quick access, and it's possible to flag important emails so you automatically receive an on-screen notification as soon as a reply is received. Mail can also recognise date and time information within emails and provides an option for quickly adding this to the iOS Calendar app.

At long last, Mail can even help you set up out of office' messages too.

4) Notifications are interactive

The introduction of interactive notifications was overdue.

Notify Me' tells iOS to display a notification as soon as you receive a reply to a particular email, and when you pull-down to display the notification you'll see options allowing you to reply, or delete a message without needing to open the app.

Apple also includes options to Accept/Decline when you receive a calendar invitation. These options work directly from the lockscreen as well, so it's quick and easy to respond to emails and messages as soon as they arrive.

5) Messages includes features from Whatsapp & Snapchat

The 'Tap-to-talk' option in the Messages app allows you to send an audio recording, much like you can via Whatsapp.If the recipient is also using an iPhone they can listen to the recording by holding the iPhone up to their ear. The motion sensors within the iPhone recognise this movement and play the recording as though it were an ordinary voice call.

You can take photos and videos in a similar fashion, by tapping on the camera icon within the app. Apple now makes it possible to set audio and video messages to expire' after two minutes an idea borrowed from the popular Snapchat app and useful if you plan on sharing sensitive information.

We also like the inclusion of Instant Contacts, which works in conjunction with Messages and other apps. When you double-tap on the Home button to switch between apps, you now see a list of up to eight recent contacts. You can tap the person's name to quickly send them a new message or start a phone call.

6) iCloud Drive look promising

Apple's iCloud service works well for syncing photos, video and emails across multiple Apple devices. But it's never been able to upload and sync other types of files such as Microsoft Office documents in the same way as rival services such as Dropbox. Until now

iCloud Drive will now allow you to upload and store any files you choose, whilst syncing them across multiple Macs, iOS devices or PCs. You'll get 5GB of storage free, and Apple has cut its prices for additional storage, starting at just 0.79 per month for 20GB.

iCloud Drive on the Mac requires the forthcoming OS X Yosemite update, which still doesn't have a release date. Andthird-party apps for iPhones and iPads will need to be updated by developers in order to work with iCloud Drive.

Ironically, Apple has released a new version of its iCloud software for Windows, allowing PC users to make full use of iCloud Drive before Mac users.

7) Continuity will allows devices to talk to each other

Also waiting for the arrival of Yosemite is Continuity a set of features increasing integration between the Mac and iOS operating systems.

The HandOff feature is the main attraction - allowing you to switch from one device to another as you work. If you're writing an email on your iPhone or iPad and you want to use your Mac's keyboard to type faster then you'll be able to switch over to Mail on your Mac and carry on typing from where you left off.

You can even receive text messages or phone calls on your Mac, or start a Pages document on the Mac and then switch to an iPhone or iPad when you leave your office.

But, as with iCloud Drive, iOS 8 is half of the story, and we'll have to wait for Yosemite before we can assess how well Continuity works.

8) HealthKit gets postponed

The most high-profile casualty of the launch of iOS 8 was HealthKit, a set of tools and APIs designed to allow developers to create apps to monitor data like heart rate and blood sugar.

The discovery of a last-minute bug in HealthKit led to a number of health-related apps being withdrawn from the App Store on the day of the iOS 8 launch. Apple hopes to release an update for HealthKit by the end of this month, and this delay is unlikely to hinder its plans for the health industry in the long term but it's still an embarrassingly high-profile hiccup.

9) Safari gets cleaner look and more functions

The Safari browser gets an interface makeover too. The address bar and tabs are now hidden when on a page to give you an uncluttered view. You can restore the address bar and tabs whenever you want to by stroking down the page with a finger, and Safari on iOS now includes a sidebar similar to the OS X version of Safari. This displays your reading list of stored articles and pages.

The overview option is a nice touch, showing smaller previews of all your open web pages, and even grouping together multiple pages from the same web site. However, our favourite addition to Safari is the ability to press and hold on the Tab button to see a list of recently closed tabs perfect for the times when you accidentally close an important webpage.

Apple also seems to laying the groundwork for a battle with Google over privacy. You can choose the DuckDuckGo search engine as your default tool for scouring the web.

Safari also "borrows" a couple of features from Google's Chrome browser, such as the ability to view the desktop version of a web site, and create individual private' tabs.

We remain unconvinced by the option to take a photo of your credit card in order to autofill the card number for online purchases. It's simple enough to use, but taking photos of your credit card doesn't seem like a good idea, especially after the iCloud leak.

10) Photos are easier to manage

The iPhone and iPad are responsible for countless billions of photos being uploaded to the internet on a daily basis, so the Photos app has been updated with improved search tools for managing large collections of photos.

As soon as you tap on the Search tool in the top-right corner of the screen you'll see a list of photos taken close to your current location. You can also search by location name, date or album name. The last version of Photos was ideal for dealing with large photo libraries going back several years, so the improved search tools make a huge difference.

Perhaps even more significant is the fact that iOS 8 effectively kills off Apple's long-running iPhoto editing program. It's no longer available on the App Store, but a number of its editing tools have now been rolled into Photos. These include features such as a crop tool, various colour adjustments and filter effects, all of which are straightforward and easy to use.

However, some iPhoto users have reported problems when their edited photos are opened in the new version of Photos and, annoyingly, Apple's support documents state that you may not be able to make further edits unless you revert to the original photo and start all over again.

11) Will Apple Pay take off?

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are the first iOS devices to include NFC chips and these will be used exclusively with the Apple Pay system. PayPal has taken a potshot at this potential rival with wise-cracking ads referencing the nude celebrity photo security scandal.

However, many analysts predict that Apple's entrance into the mobile payment market will help to kickstart usage. This is due to the sheer popularity of iPhones and with Apple using end-to-end encryption and promising not to store credit card details. At present Apple Pay is available in the US only - and it is expected to roll out in UK during 2015.

Overall

iOS 8 brings much needed improvements to the keyboard, notifications and web browsing. With Continuity, iCloud Drive and HealthKit all to look forward too, this will be the best iOS update to-date.

Of course, with iOS being such a big update, teething problems are expected. Many of these should be ironed out quickly. But it is disappointing that older devices such as the iPhone 4 and iPad 2 will struggle.

iOS 8 now installed on 68 per cent of Apple devices

Originally published on 08/01/15 by Caroline Preece

The majority of Apple devices are now running on iOS 8

It has been revealed by Apple on itsApp Store Distributionpage that iOS 8 is now installed on 68 per cent of devices, including iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches.

iOS 7 now runs on 29 per cent of devices, which is three per cent down from previous figures, with four per cent of Apple device owners are still using older iterations of the iOS.

The number of people using iOS 8 has risen by four per cent since numbers were last released on 22 December.

It waspreviously reportedthat Apple was disappointed with adoption rates of the new operating system, with just 47 per cent of iDevice users having downloaded iOS 8 by the beginning of October. By theend ofthe month, this had jumped to 52 per cent.

Apple's latest operating system was released on 17 September, when there were various complaints about bugs and problems. One major issue experienced by users was about the size of the update, for which Apple is now being sued.

The argumentis that on devices such as the 16GB iPhone 6, the size of the iOS 8 update diminishes the amount of storage space the phone is advertised for by around 3GB (19 per cent).

Shortly after the release, Apple withdrew the ability to downgrade to iOS 7 after installing iOS 8, releasing subsequent updates in order to addressongoing teething problems.

iOS 8 now on over half of Apple devices

Originally published on 29/10/14 by Caroline Preece

iOS 8 has now been installed on more than half of Apple devices, up four per cent in two weeks

iOS 8 is now installed on more than half of Apple devices, it has been revealed via a new report on Apple's App Storedevelopers support page.

As reported byMacRumours, Apple's newest operating system has been downloaded on 52 per cent of iOS devices, which is up by four per cent from numbers announced during Apple'sOctober 16 event. At that point, CEO Tim Cook said that iOS 8 had been installed on 48 per cent of Apple devices.

This pushes iOS 7's share down to 43 per cent, with just five per cent using earlier operating systems on their phone, phablet or tablet.

iOS 8.1, designed to fix some of the bugs that had been widely reported by users, was released on October 20, which could explain the steady increase of adopters for the OS over a relatively short amount of time.

The upgrade included support for Apple Pay, the Camera Roll's return and more. Bugs plaguing Wi-Fi connection and screen rotation were also fixed with the update.

At the beginning of October,we reportedthat download figures for iOS 8 had been disappointing, as adoption rates appeared to have paused at just fewer than 50 per cent. At the same point in iOS 7's history, installation figures stood at 60 per cent, a milestone the new OS has yet to meet.

One of the major barriers seemed to be the sheer size of the update, which caused users to complain that they had had to wipe their devices before being able to install the update.

iOS 8 download rate disappoints

Originally published on 08/10/14 by Clare Hopping

Apple's own download stats have shown upgrades have slowed to a crawl

Apple's iOS 8 download statistics have shown that people have not taken up the operating system as fast as expected.

In fact, data displayed on the company's developer portal indicates just 47 per cent of iDevice users have downloaded and installed the update, which is only one per cent more than it was a week ago when Apple last reported download figures.

In comparison, three weeks after iOS 7 rolled out last year, the official installation figures stood at 60 per cent, with a much faster rate of adoption than reported this year.

iOS 8 launched on September 17, but, like any iOS update, it was plagued by customer complaints and problems. Most of these were related to the size of the update, with thousands of users flocking to Twitter and Facebook reporting they had to wipe their devices in order to install the 5.6GB update.

A number of bugs have since come to light in the update, includingincompatibility with Dropboxforcing the company to roll out a second update (iOS 8.0.1) just week after the initial rollout.

Apple was scheduled to includeHealthKit in the first iOS 8 updatetoo, but that had to be pulled before the operating system saw its public release because it wasn't ready for public use - but it was added in iOS 8.0.1. However, after installing the bug fixes, other users reported phone service and TouchID stopped working.

Apple has now rolled out a second update - taking the software up to version iOS 8.0.2 and although that seems to have fixed most of the problems, it probably won't be too long until the company decides to release another tweak.

The company measures the number of people downloading and installing its software updates using by measuring App Store visits over a period of time.

This article was originally published on 23/09/14 and has been updated multiple times (most recently on 12/08/15)

Verdict

iOS 8 adds much needed features to core apps like Mail, Safari and also makes notifications more interactive. With HealthKit, iCloud Drive and Continuity on the horizon there's much to look forward too as well.

Huawei unveiled the P8 Max yesterday (16 April), a plus-sized companion to its new flagship phone, the P8.

The device, with a gargantuan display measuring 6.8in, is part of the growing trend towards large phones such as the Lumia 640XL and the iPhone 6 Plus.

Huawei P8 Max: release date and price

The P8 Max will launch a month after the regular version, with the first territories able to expect it sometime in May, and comes with two different storage capacities.

Buyers of the 32GB version will be able to pick it up for 549, which is around 395 at current conversion rates. If you want the 64GB model, it'll set you back 649, or around 466.

The device launches with two colours per price tier: Mystic Champagne' and Titanium Grey' for the 32GB model, and Prestige Gold' and Titanium Grey' for the 64GB model.

Huawei P8 Max: design

Like the more petite variant, the P8 Max is a sleek, attractive-looking piece of design. The bevelled edges make an already-slim device a marvel of svelteness, and it really is very attractive.

This is, of course, based solely on looks. Trying to hold the 6.8in colossus one-handed is a struggle, let alone actually attempting to use it. If you can get past the outrageous size, however, it's a rather beguiling device.

Huawei P8 Max: hardware

Internally, the device is packing most of the same hardware as its smaller brother. It's still controlled by an octocore Kirin935 CPU, albeit clocked to 2.2GHz this time, and it's still got 3GB of RAM.

The camera's also identical, with a 13MP rear sensor and 5MP 'selfie' camera, in addition to Huawei's veritable avalanche of photo effects and editing software.

What has changed dramatically, however, is the battery. The P8 Max contains a 4,360mAh battery, which promises 10 hours of movie streaming, 15 hours internet browsing or 60 hours of music.

It also claims to last for over two days of normal usage on a single charge. These are good stats, but they're less impressive when you consider that the battery capacity could power a small city state.

The P8 Max comes with dual-sim capability as standard no single SIM version, unlike the P8. However, in order to use a second SIM, you'll have to sacrifice the MicroSD slot and say goodbye to the expandable memory.

The P8 Max's connectivity features are on the more impressive end of the scale. Dual-band Wi-Fi with 802.11 b/g/n/ac capability complement Bluetooth 4.0, LTE 4G and NFC to provide a pretty much complete package.

Huawei P8 Max: OS

Everything's basically familiar territory on the software side, too. As with the P8, it runs Huawei's own Emotion UI over an Android Lollipop base. There's a lot to like about the look and feel of the interface, particularly if you're an Apple fan the layout is remarkably similar.

The OS has had a few tweaks to make full use of the larger screen area; users can now multi-task, with different, resizable windows running simultaneously. The landscape view also looks like it's been optimised for more productivity.

Huawei P8 Max: display

Although the screen's had a pretty big boost in size, there's no matching resolution increase. This means that while it's still Full-HD, the pixel density is going to suffer in comparison to the more compact P8.

Huawei is boasting about other aspects of the display, though, with the high contrast ratio, colour saturation and sun view mode' for clear display in bright light all being talking points.

Huawei P8 Max: verdict

The Chinese firm is squaring up to some of the major big-screen players with the P8 Max, and none more so than Apple's iPhone 6 Plus. In addition to some direct comparisons highlighting the P8 Max's advantages over the 6 Plus including the fact that it's a little thinner Huawei took a very thinly-veiled swipe at Cupertino with the strapline "much bigger than bigger, yet pocketable".

Indeed, Huawei claims that its 6.8in monstrosity is pocketable. Not, we would contend, unless your pockets somehow employ dimension-shifting wizard magic. The P8 Max is a beast of a phone, dwarfing even the Lumia 640XL.

It's so big, in fact, that we're drawing a line here. The Huawei P8 Max isn't a phone. It isn't even a phablet. With a screen that's barely smaller than the Nexus 7's, Huawei's monster phone is just a tablet that can take calls. A very interesting tablet with many great features, but a tablet nonetheless.

Apple could become the only $1 trillion company thanks to innovations like the Apple Watch and its rumoured self-driving car, one analyst claims.

Brian White, analyst at Cantor Fitzgerald, cited Apple's strong performance in China as another factor behind his estimate, detailed in a note to investors.

He said: "Next month, Apple will enter its first new product category in five years, while media reports over the past several weeks have highlighted potential new areas of future innovation.

"Also, we believe Apple's iPhone portfolio and position in China have never been stronger.

"Finally, Applehas shown its commitment to returning cash to shareholders, and we expect more in April. We believe the combination of these forces will drive the market to reward Apple's stock."

The prediction comes after the tech giant netted the highest profit ever recorded by a company in a single quarter in the last three months of 2014.

The $18 billion profit, and record $74.6 billion revenue, were chalked up to the popularity of the iPhone 6.

Cantor Fitzgerald think that Apple's shares could soon be worth $180 per share.

Currently they are at $127, which puts the company at a value of $733 billion.

If Apple does hit $1 trillion in value, it will be worth more than each respective GDP of Saudi Arabia, Indonesia or the Netherlands, according to statistics from the World Bank.

However, some sources are predicting the opposite of Cantor Fitzgerald's positive speculations.

Berenberg Bank predicted that their share could crash to $85. According to Forbes, the average prediction for the company's stock is $135.

The majority of iPhone 6 users haven't bothered to even try out Apple Pay, the tech giant's digital wallet, according to a survey.

The report from anti-fraud startup Trustev found that 79 per cent of Apple customers with the latest iPhone models haven't made use of Apple Pay, with many of the remaining 21 per cent of the 1,000 US respondents still using cards or cash as their main payment method.

Of that 21 per cent who have used Apple Pay to purchase goods, 30 percent have stopped using the service completely, with only 2.1 per cent describing themselves as "super-users," with 10 or more purchases a week made using the payments system.

Pat Phelan, CEO of Trustev, said: "Apple Pay is a great system: secure, elegant and convenient. But the slow adoption shows how difficult it is to get consumers to change well-entrenched habits, like paying with card swipes.

"Of course, it is early days, more merchants are coming on board, and I'm sure we'll see adoption grow, but the initial reception has been slow."

Apple announced that it had seen one million activations within 72 hours of the system's launch, and the company claims that one million cards have been added.

According to the survey, 63 per cent of those who are using Apple Pay are doing so because of its convenience.

"It also points to a broader issue: maybe paying with cards is just not that painful," Phelan added. "For years, techies have been pitching e-wallets to consumers, but they don't seem interested.

"Even after Apple has launched by far the most elegant version to date, consumer adoption is light."

Reasons behind the slow adoption of the service could be apathy and ignorance, with the survey finding 50 per cent of respondents simply didn't care, while 34 per cent didn't actually know about the feature.

Apple is being sued again for failing to clarify how much space the iOS 8 update would eat up on users' iPhones and iPads, CBS Los Angeles reports.

A lawsuit was filed against the company on Tuesday by Jerry Jacobson, claiming Apple did not properly disclose the size of its iOS 8 update when pre-installed on devices advertised with a certain storage size.

With the operating system already occupying up to 23 per cent of that space, and Apple not making the distinction clear, Jacobson claims the reduced space is "a result that no consumer could reasonably anticipate."

IT Pro reported a similar case last month in which Miami residents filed a lawsuit seeking $5 million in damages for the fact the advertised 16GB iPhone does not actually offer 16GB of storage space with the iOS 8 update installed.

The claimants said: "Apple's misrepresentations and omissions are deceptive and misleading because they omit material facts that an average consumer would consider in deciding whether to purchase its products.

"Apple exploits the discrepancy between represented and available capacity for its own fain by offering to sell," it continues, "and by selling, cloud storage capacity to purchasers whose internal storage capacity is at or near exhaustion."

The most recent lawsuit also points to this issue, claiming Apple "exploits" the problem by charging between 99 cents and $29.99 a month for extra cloud storage space but stops users from purchasing additional storage from elsewhere.

The supersized iPhone 6 Plus has been credited for helping Apple chalk up the largest quarterly profit ever recorded by a company.

Apple made a record quarterly revenue of $74.6 billion during the three months to 27 December, as well as a record quarterly net profit of $18billion.

The results were well ahead of Wall Street's expectations, which predicted a quarterly revenue of around $67.7 billion for the consumer electronics giant had been mooted.

This was on the back of all-time high iPhone sales, of 74.5 million units, which the firm's CEO Tim Cook has described as "staggering".

"This volume is hard to comprehend. On average we sold over 34,000 iPhones every hour, 24 hours a day, every day of the quarter," he said on a conference call to discuss the results, transcribed by Seeking Alpha.

The popularity of the iPhone 6 Plus, in particular, has been cited as key revenue driver for Apple in Q1 by Luca Maestri, the firm's senior vice president and chief financial officer.

"The unprecedented demand for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus combined with our tremendously successful production ramp allowed us to build and ship several million more iPhones that we had expected when we provided guidance back in October," said Maestri.

"iPhone ASPs [average selling prices] were $687, an increase of $50 over the year ago quarter. This led to iPhone revenue growth of 57 per cent year-over-year, with quarterly sales exceeding $50 billion for the first time ever."

Q1 demand for the firm's iPhone devices weren't the only bright spot in Apple's results, as Mac sales were also up 14 per cent, and App Store revenue was also up 41 per cent.

The only dampener on its Q1 proceedings was the downturn in iPad sales, with Apple selling 21.4 million units. This was down from 26 million in the same quarter of the previous year.

This will undoubtedly fuel industry speculation about how sales of larger form smartphones are cannibalising those of tablets.

This sentiment was echoed in a mailout earlier today by Richard Holway, chairman at analyst firm TechMarketView, who said: "It really does look as if the five-year-old iPad has peaked. With the iPhone 6+ almost as big as an iPad Mini, many users question why they need both devices."

Apple is being sued by users who've taken issue with the consumer electronic giant's claims about storage space on the 16GB iPhone in the wake of theiOS 8 update.

The Miami residents filed the lawsuit last week, according to CNN Wire, and are reportedly seeking $5 million in damages because the 16GB iPhone 6 doesn't offer 16GB of storage space, as advertised.

In fact, around 3GB of that storage is occupied by the new iOS 8 update, which amounts to 19 per cent of what Apple is promising users. This results in customers being duped into buying Apple products without the accurate information to aid them in the decision making process, the plaintiffs say.

In the complaint, they said: "Apple's misrepresentations and omissions are deceptive and misleading because they omit material facts that an average consumer would consider in deciding whether to purchase its products."

They continue on to say this could be perceived as part of a plan by the company to encourage users to store files and photos in the iCloud rather than on their device.

"Apple exploits the discrepancy between represented and available capacity for its own gain by offering to sell, and by selling, cloud storage capacity to purchasers whose internal storage capacity is at or near exhaustion."

The iPhone and Galaxy ranges remain the most popular smartphones going into 2015.

We pit Samsung's jack-of-all-trades, the Galaxy S5, against Apple's iPhone 6 to see which is better value for money.

Display & Design

iPhone 6

Crafted from a single piece of aluminium, the iPhone is cool to touch and comfortable to grip thanks to its 6.9mm frame and rounded corners. It's the best looking device on the market, in our view.

At 129g, you're not going to notice it in your pocket. Whilst we have no criticism of its looks, the iPhone 6 feels fragile. You'll want to invest in a cover because dropping the device is likely to result in a smashed screen or a dent in the metallic chassis.

Apple ships the device with a 4.7in panel. However, it's not full HD, with the resolution clocking in at 1334 x 750 (326 pixels-per-inch).

However, with a maximum brightness of 585cd/m2, this is one of the best LCD panels available on the market and you'll have no issues with web browsing and multimedia playback.

Galaxy S5

The design of the S5 splits opinion due to use of plastic instead of metal for the casing. You might find the back panel tacky, but it doesn't affect the performance of the device. Plus it's more durable and easily replaceable if damaged.

With a bigger 5.1in Super AMOLED display, the S5 is heavier (145g) and thicker (8.1mm). However, it's worth noting that it remains comfortable to hold and doesn't feel oversized.

To make the handset robust, Samsung has built it to an IP67 rating, meaning it's water resistant and dustproof. There's one port cover at the bottom covering the micro USB 3 connection. Samsung has made space for the micro SD card slot on the inside, so there's no requirement for any other flaps.

The screen on the S5 has a full HD resolution (1920 x 1080) and a higher pixel density than the iPhone 6 (432ppi). It's capable of displaying more detailed images and video as well as sharper text. A maximum brightness of 360cd/m2 isn't quite as high as the iPhone 6 - but it's still comfortable enough for use.

The biggest difference between the displays is colour replication. The use of Super AMOLED technology in the S5 means colours are more vibrant by default - like pages in a glossy comic book. The LCD on the iPhone displays more realistic looking colours.

You can tinker with the display on the S5 by going to to Settings > Display > Screen Mode. There are five options and activating Cinema mode provides the most accurate colour replication.

Winner: Galaxy S5 - Although the iPhone 6 is arguably the better designed handset, the S5 has the superior screen quality, and is more durable thanks to the IP67 rating.

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Battery life

iPhone 6

This has never been a strong point of iPhones and the same applies to the latest model. Apple uses an 1810mAh battery pack as the power source for the iPhone 6. It sounds good but when you consider the 4.7in screen size, it could have been bigger.

You should be able to get through the day with moderate usage - but bear in mind that the power cell is sealed into the chassis and it will degrade after a few months of daily usage.

Apple has added a battery usage menu, which shows exactly which apps are draining power. However, iOS lacks a power saving mode - so when you're running low on juice it's up to you to disable background tasks, change the display and network settings manually to save juice.

Galaxy S5

The 2,800mAh battery pack used in the S5 means the device has no problems lasting a full working day. It's also removable - which means you can swap it out once it starts to degrade or if you're a power user, carry a spare to slot in at anytime.

Samsung has taken power management to the next level with the S5. A standard power saving mode turns off background tasks and restricts performance.

When you need to stretch the battery for as long as possible, there's an Ultra Power Saving mode. This shuts down everything but the core apps, changing the interface to a list of simple icons. It's ideal when you're stuck in the middle of nowhere with no charging capabilities.

Winner: Galaxy S5 - It's got a large battery, which is supported by a multitude of power-saving features and it's user replaceable.

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Storage

iPhone 6

Available with 16/64/128GB of internal storage - the model you pick will be crucial at the time of purchase as physical capacity cannot be increased.

Apple does provide 5GB of free iCloud storage and more can be purchased if required.

Don't be fooled into thinking that 16GB of storage will be enough. This will get filled up in no time with app downloads, music, pictures and any videos. Issue will also arise when it comes to installing future iOS updates - and you'll end up having to transfer content to your PC.

Galaxy S5

Samsung offers the S5 with either 16/32GB of internal storage. Because the device supports up to 128GB of additional storage via a micro SD card slot, it's ok to opt for the 16GB model.

When you buy a Galaxy S5 you also get 50GB of free Dropbox storage of two years.

Winner: Galaxy S5 - The micro SD expandability wins the day.

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Operating system

The most subjective category of this test is software as it's the primary method of interaction with your device. Below we provide the pros and cons of both operating systems.

Android

Pros

• Customise the device to your hearts content by installing a launcher from the Google Play Store or flashing the ROM if you're an advanced user
• Multitude of battery saving options
• Install widgets
• Pick which apps you want to act as default
• Use two apps at once in a pseudo-multitasking
• Transfer files with a Mac or PC by dragging and dropping them
• Get the best experience for Google services

Cons

• The TouchWiz interface can be a bit overwhelming and replacing the launcher will result in reduced functionality
• The Google Play Store is haven for malware
• Software updates are carrier dependent unless you have a Nexus device and are pushed out months after Google releases the latest version of Android
• The user base is fragmented - potentially making it harder to manage a fleet of devices.

iOS

Pros

• Simple interface makes it easy to pick up and use
• There's no carrier bloatware
• You get all Apple services such as iCloud, iTunes, App Store as well as most of Google's popular apps including Gmail, Google Maps, Inbox, Chrome, Translate and Drive
• Immediate backup and restore when switching devices via the iCloud
• Granular control over Privacy settings in iOS 8
• Negligible danger of installing malware from the App Store
• iOS 8 has opened up core APIs for the first time allowing users to customise core features like the keyboards.
• iOS interacts with OS X - allowing you to answer phone calls or messages from your laptop

Cons

• Limited customisation options without jailbreaking
• No multitasking
• Yearly update pushed out by Apple is usually buggy so best to wait before installing.
• No widgets
• No manual battery saving options
• Getting files on/off the device can be irritating as there is no mass USB support
• Camera controls remain basic

Winner: Draw - Neither OS is perfect and it will depend which you prefer.

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Unique features

iPhone 6

Perhaps the best unique feature on the iPhone 6 is Touch ID, which is integrated into the home button. This fingerprint scanner allows users to unlock the device with a touch and also pay for purchases in the App Store and selected sites.

The firm has also rolled out Apple Pay across the US - allowing you to pay for purchases with the handset using NFC. This is expected to arrive in the UK during 2015.

Another feature is the M8 co-processor, which is responsible for collecting and processing data from the accelerometer, compass, gyroscope and the barometer.

Galaxy S5

Samsung has also built in a fingerprint scanner onto the front of the S5. It relies on a traditional swipe - so it's not quite as seamless as Touch ID. There's a heart rate monitor on the back of the device, which is hit-and-miss and doesn't feel necessary.

As mentioned above - the device is water resistant and dust proof - making it more robust than the iPhone 6.

Samsung has included a Download Booster functionality allowing users in regions such as the UK to combine their 4G signal with Wi-Fi to speed up the time it takes to download large files.

When you purchase a Galaxy S5 you also get a multitude of free trials for services such as Dropbox, Run Keeper, Bloomberg Businessweek+ and Evernote.

Winner: Draw - The iPhone 6 has the better implemented hardware features whereas the S5 has enticing freebies and software features like the Download Booster.

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Overall

There's little to differentiate the devices in terms of performance. On paper, the S5 has the better display, battery life and storage. However, it real-world usage, we prefer the less bloated software on the iPhone and features such as Touch ID are superbly implemented.

That said, when it comes to value for money, there is only one winner.

The S5 is available from 28 per month on a contract or 445 SIM-free. This is considerably cheaper than the iPhone 6, which is available for free starting at 38.50 per month or 539 SIM-free.

Apple has been hit with claims from iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users that their devices are prone to scratching even with minimal use and excellent care.

As reported by Apple Insider, and based on posts made by disgruntled users on Apple's Support Communities forum, many have noticed their iPhone screen becoming scratched very easily, and so far 626 people have taken to the forum to discuss the problem. The thread has been viewed more than 103,000 times.

The scratches seem to most often appear in the corners of the display, though some have pointed out that models previous to the iPhone 6 have not exhibited the same level of surface scratching even after years of normal use. As a result, many reported the problem after just one week.

The problem, then, has been attributed to the material used to protect the handset's screen, widely thought to be Corning's Gorilla Glass 3 alkali-aluminosilicate glass, though that assumption has not been officially confirmed by Apple.

Apple claims to have used "strengthened Ion-A" glass to reinforce the phone's screen.

According to Apple Insider, one reason for the iPhone 6's tendency to become damaged more easily is the curved display glass, as it is the first of Apple's smartphones to include no bezel "lip".

"Previous iPhones like the most recent iPhone 5s used flat pieces of glass surrounded by a thermoplastic peripheral material housed in a harder polymer wrap," they say. "This structure helped for shock protection, deflecting encounters with foreign objects and would keep the screen protected if laid down on its face."

In September, it was widely reported the iPhone 6 Plus was prone to bending when kept in pockets for extended periods of time.

Apple has so far not responded to news of the problem.

Apple's iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones have prompted less Android users to switch over to iOS than experts had predicted, a new study has revealed.

The survey from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners looks into iOS adoption among Android users following the release of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, report Mac Rumours.

The number is smaller for 2014 (12 per cent) than in 2013 (23 per cent), despite predictions that Apple's new devices would prompt more customers to switch.

Other findings included that Android users (31 per cent) that are already familiar with larger screens were more likely to buy the 5.5in iPhone 6 Plus over existing Apple customers (25 per cent), who opted instead of the smaller 4.7in iPhone 6.

Analysts previously predicted that Apple's larger iPhone models would spark a wave of conversions from Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry users, but this apparently has not been the case.

Josh Lowitz, CIRP Partner and Co-Founder, said: "The vast majority of new iPhone buyers were already iPhone owners. Current iPhone owners accounted for over 80 per cent of buyers after this launch, compared to less than 65 per cent after the iPhone 5s and 5c launch in September 2013.

"Android owners accounted for a much smaller share of buyers immediately after this year's iPhone launch, and with smartphones so prevalent in the US, we also saw a smaller percentage of iPhone buyers moving from basic phones."

Results of the survey are based on 300 people who had bought an iPhone in the 30 days following the devices' launch on 19 September.

Around 1.4 million customers have joined EE's 4G network in the third quarter of its financial year, as the mobile operator continues on its quest to have six million customers signed up to its superfast services by the end of the year.

According to its latest financial figures, around 5.6 million subscribers now use the firm's 4G network, giving it the biggest 4G customer base of any operator in Europe, it claimed.

The firm claims to have rolled out 4G to over 75 per cent of the UK population, with double speed 4G set to be online in 40 cities by the end of the year.

EE saw a net increase of 178,000 postpaid connections including M2M (Machine to Machine) devices, and a net increase of 119,000 postpaid mobile customers (excluding M2M).

It added that 60.3 per cent of customers were now on postpaid (as opposed to pay-as-you-go) and these users generated an average of six times higher ARPU than prepaid customers.

It managed to keep customer churn to 1.1 per cent, which marks the 14th consecutive month it's managed to keep this figure below 1.2 per cent.

Despite the extra subscribers, EE's revenues flatlined, showing no growth. However, when regulatory cuts were bought into the picture, revenues fell by 1.2 per cent to 1.5 billion.

Mobile average revenues per user managed to grow slightly at 1.6 per cent, but when regulatory cuts were added this fell to just 0.5 per cent.

The operator said it was making improvements to its network and was the first and only UK operator to announce seamless Wi-Fi calling on major new devices including the iPhone 6.

In parallel to this, EE said it was installing new 4G equipment in rural areas to rollout voice over 4G (VoLTE) using the 800 MHz spectrum next year.

Neal Milsom, chief financial officer of EE, said the firm was "delivering consistent underlying performance in a highly competitive environment while continuing to face significant regulatory pressure on our revenues".

"We are investing to further innovate on behalf of our customers by delivering not just the best network but also improvements in customer service, a range of attractive EE branded devices, Shared Plans, and soon EE TV," he added.

A prototype iPhone 6 that was sent to a Verizon customer as an upgrade is set to fetch more than $100,000 on eBay after the recipient decided to sell it.

Seller kimberlyk1018 ordered the iPhone 6 as an upgrade direct from the Verizon network in the US, but didn't realise they would be receiving a developer device.

When the device arrived, the owner discovered it was running different software to the standard iPhone 6. It was also without the standard FCC branding on the back and featured a red charging port, which is always used on prototypes.

The listing reads: "Apple does NOT let these phones out of their possession yet I was accidentally sent one upon renewing my contract. As you can see from the photos, iOS8 has not been placed on this device, rather it is in the true developer mode. There are no FCC markings on the rear of the device or a model number.

"This is the real deal!!! The lightening port is red which is a sure sign of a prototype. This device is being sold as is. I cannot guarantee that it will make calls or that the camera will work. However, I can guarantee you that the device is a 64gb iPhone 6 which was sent to me from Verizon."

Apple hasn't made any attempt to get the device back as yet, but it's likely the company will try and take possession of the iPhone, claiming it as stolen property.

In 2010, two men sold what they claimed was a prototype of the iPhone 4 to Gizmodo for 3,200. The men were charged with selling a stolen device, although both avoided prison.

Steve Jobs also tried to sue Gizmodo, but the website managed to also avoid any conviction.

Despite several updates released for Apple's latest operating system, iOS 8, problems have persisted.

It has also been announced that users who have already updated their device will not be able to downgrade to iOS 7, which could become a problem in light of the ongoing hardware and software issues.

Apple released the iOS 8.0.2 update on Thursday, which was created to correct some problems that users had reported having with iOS 8.0.1.

Problems included people being unable to connect to their cellular network to make phone calls, getting locked out of their device due to the Touch ID fingerprint sensor not working correctly and HealthKit apps not being available on the App Store due to a bug.

The HealthKit bug meant many apps that were planning to release iOS 8-compatible updates for Apple's new health and fitness tracking hub had to delay plans until the problem could be resolved.

Addressing this, a spokesperson for Apple told Cult of Mac: "We're working quickly to have the bug fixed in a software update and have HealthKit available by the end of the month."

Once these problems were first reported, Apple released the second update. According to Mac Rumours, the company did however announce that fewer than 40,000 iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus devices had been affected by the bugs.

In a statement on Thursday, the company said: "iOS 8.0.2... fixes an issue that affected iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users who downloaded iOS 8.0.1, and includes improvements and big fixes originally in iOS 8.0.1. We apologise for inconveniencing the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users who were impacted by the big in iOS 8.0.1."

The second update did not rectify all of the problems as promised, however, and many users continued to report issues they were having with their device.

Carolina Milanesi, chief of research at Kantar Worldpanel, said: "There's a certain perception that Apple has to get things right, and when they don't, the whole company gets questioned. But they came out and said We apologise; we're working 24/7 to fix it.' I think that's what matters."

It has also emerged that Apple is withdrawing support for iOS 7 for users who have already upgraded their device, which can be seen as an attempt to get as many people using iOS 8 as possible.

The problems that Apple's newest operating system has experienced so far have received a lot of attention, so the news that disgruntled users will not be able to downgrade to iOS 7 could be cause for concern.

iOS 8.0.2 has been released by Apple to fix the network problems and Touch ID issues the previous iOS update released this week caused for iPhone 6 users.

Apple was forced to withdraw its iOS 8.0.1 update after iPhone 6 users complained that installing it had resulted in them losing network access.

The update also stopped Touch ID, Apple's biometric fingerprint scanner, from working, meaning users could have ended up locked out of their devices.

As a result, Apple issued guidance telling users how to go about rolling back their devices to iOS 8, while promising a full fix for the problems in the coming days.

How to re-install iOS 8 on the iPhone 6

1) Connect your device to iTunes, and back up the data on it.2) Download either the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus file for your device.3) Select the file you just downloaded, and check for updates in iTunes.4) An option to install iOS 8 should appear, so press update.

"You can reinstall iOS 8 through iTunes... We are also preparing iOS 8.0.2 with a fix for the issue, and will release it as soon as it's ready in the next few days."

Much to the relief of iPhone 6 users, the consumer electronics giant has now released iOS 8.0.2 to help fix these issues, and several other bugs users have encountered since upgrading from iOS 7 to iOS 8.

These include a bug that prevented HealthKit apps from being made available on the App Store, third-party keyboard issues and a fault that prevented some apps from accessing pictures stored in Photo Library.

The update also addresses the problem of SMS/MMS messages using more data than expected, and a bug that stopped users from uploading pictures and videos to Safari.

News of the network connectivity and Touch ID issues, which appear to be isolated to iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices, caused by iOS 8.0.1 first came to light on Wednesday night, with many Apple users taking to Twitter to report problems after installing the update.

In a statement the company apologised to those affected: "We apologise for the great inconvenience experienced by users, and are working around the clock to prepare iOS 8.0.2 with a fix for the issue."

iOS 8.0.1 was pushed out to users just one week after the major iOS 8 update was released by Apple, and was designed to fix a number of bugs that have emerged in the mobile operating system.

These include Wi-Fi connectivity and battery drain problems, as well as app performance issues.

News of the botched update comes hot on the heels of further complaints by iPhone 6 and 6 Plus users about their devices bending after being in their pockets.

The iPhone 6 packs enough upgrades to make it the best iOS smartphone to date. But, like any device, it's not perfect. Below we go through our favourite features, highlight some problematic areas and also have a hands-on video.

Top 5 features

Display & Design

The iPhone 6 is the most comfortable iPhone to hold, thanks to its rounded corners. It's not the lightest because it's bigger than previous versions, but 129g isn't going to weigh you down. Some reviewers have complained about the antennae bars on the back of the device spoiling the look, but I don't think it detracts from the design as this is the best looking iPhone to-date.

Having grown used to using large Android handsets, my favourite feature of the iPhone 6 is the 4.7in display, which gives websites and videos plenty of room, without making the handset awkward to hold.

The iPhone 6 panel isn't quite full HD - the resolution is 1334 x 750- with a density of 326 pixels-per-inch. Professionals using the device for graphical/photo work may find the iPhone 6 doesn't have enough pixels, but for normal tasks like browsing and viewing multimedia you'll struggle to tell the difference between this and a full HD handset.

Brightness cannot be faulted, with the iPhone 6 blasting out an eye-searing maximum of 585cd/m2.

According to DisplayMate, the iPhone 6/6 Plus have the best LCD displays to date and we'd be hard-pressed to disagree. However, Apple's Retina Display technology is not quite able to match the Galaxy Note 4. The forthcoming Samsung device uses Super Amoled technology and has been labelled as the best smartphone display on the market.

Faster charging

Apple has tweaked hardware settings so the iPhone 6 can be charged faster when using an iPad adaptor. The device is able to reach full charge in approximately two hours when you use the 2-Amp adaptor instead of the 1-Amp charger provided in the box.

Open APIs

iOS 8 includes 4000 APIs and this helps to give the iPhone 6 lots of interface enhancements. Top of the list is the ability of developers to submit third-party keyboards to the App Store, with Swype being our personal favourite.

Touch ID was previously restricted to unlocking the handset and making purchases from the App/iTunes stores, but it's now possible to log into apps like Amazon using fingerprint authentication.

APIs for HealthKit and HomeKit have also been opened up so future third-party apps could enable you to control various accessories via your handset.

Camera

Despite not having the largest pixel-count, the iPhones have always been excellent all-round cameras. The iPhone 6 retains an 8-megapixel snapper but the lens has been improved in comparison to the 5s.

Two things stood out for us. The iPhone 6 has the most realistic colour replication we've seen to-date (see below) and the addition of Focus Pixels means it'll adjust focus so quickly you won't notice.

For an excellent comparison showing the difference between the cameras from the original iPhone to the iPhone 6 - check out Snapsnapsnap.

iOS 8 adds plenty of features and the best are yet arrive

Apart from the customisable keyboard, iOS 8 brings interactive notifications, private browsing to Safari, and makes it easier to manage privacy settings.

iCloud Drive and Continuity will come into action when OS X Yosemite drops in October. These will allows users to share any files between Apple devices and also to switch between machines mid-task without interruption.

The ability to measure health metrics via the HealthKit app is also incoming, although the time-frame is unknown due to the need to fix bugs.

More testing needed - Battery life

After starting our day at 7am we were down to 50 per cent at 1:30pm. This was with heavy usage in the morning. Arriving in the office at 11am we turned off push emails.

The device will last a full day with moderate/high usage - but power users are likely to need a top up before the end of the day before using it to view multimedia on the commute home.

5 areas of improvement

Simple passcode remains standard

Apple continues to promote the simple 4-digit pin-code as standard and this is disappointing. The ability to create a complex passcode is an option, but it needs to be made defacto.

With the ability to unlock the device using Touch ID, enforcing a long password is not going to cause much inconvenience because it would be used sparingly - ie. after rebooting.

32GB model gets the axe + only 1GB RAM

Apple could have earned a lot of goodwill by axing the 16GB model and offering users 32GB of internal storage for the same price. Instead it offers a 16GB model starting at 539 and then 64GB or 128GB versions, with an 80 jump in price at each level.

Analysts have speculate Apple is persuing this strategy because the 16GB models have always been the best-selling and Apple wants to promote its iCloud storage service. It's a strategy that'll probably pay off as anyone who buys a 16GB handset will run out of storage space in double-quick time and then have to use iCloud.

Sadly the iPhone 6 also ships with 1GB of RAM. Whilst iOS 8 has always been able to run smoothly using fewer system resources than Android, the lack of memory there is less certainty over how well future updates will run. We've already seen the iPhone 4s struggle to run iOS 8 with its 512MB of RAM.

Then again, it could be argued most handsets are built for a 24 month life-cycle, so it wouldn't make business sense for Apple to increase lifetime.

No removable battery/power saving mode

The unibody design means the 1810mAh battery is sealed into body. This is common among vendors, with Samsung being the exception.

Although we do like the new battery usage menu, which shows exactly which apps are draining power, the lack of a dedicated power saving option is missed. Power users are going to find it a chore having to disable background tasks, change the display and network settings manually to save juice. This is an area where Android devices, such as the Galaxy S5, win hands-down.

NFC is locked to Apple Pay for now

The iPhone 6 includes an NFC chip but Apple has confirmed this is limited to use with Apple Pay at this time. The US is the only country where Apple Pay is currently active, so users in other countries will no doubt be frustrated. Visa confirmed Apple Pay will be coming to the UK in 2015.

Fragility is an issue

The Aluminium body is sturdy, but the iPhone 6 still has a feeling of fragility. It's not got any of the IP dustproof/water resistant ratings you get with the Galaxy S5 or Xperia Z models.

I did feel a sense of paranoia carrying the iPhone around, especially after watching a fair few drop tests on the web. Using the device without a cover is asking for trouble, which is a shame because it looks beautiful.

On a side-note, the iPhone 6 does not bend (like the 6 Plus) even with considerable pressure applied.

Overall

There's much to like about the iPhone 6. The design, screen size and customisable keyboard are leaps forward. The camera remains one of the best all-round snappers on the market and iOS 8 brings numerous useful updates.

However, there are downsides. The biggest problem remains the fragility, lack of RAM and sealed in battery. On the plus side, the issues we pointed out with the passcode can be remedied and Apple Pay will come to areas like the UK eventually. With the positives outweighing the negatives, we can give this device a recommendation.

Verdict

The screen finally gets a much needed boost in size, helping to make this one of the best handsets on the market.

Apple has sold more than 10 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus devices on its launch weekend, beating last year's record of nine million units.

The iPhone 6 Plus completely sold out in most territories the day it went on sale last Friday.

Tim Cook, Apple's chief executive, said: "Sales for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus exceeded our expectations for the launch weekend, and we couldn't be happier. We would like to thank all of our customers for making this our best launch ever, shattering all previous sell-through records by a large margin.

"While our team managed the manufacturing ramp better than ever before, we could have sold many more iPhones with greater supply and we are working hard to fill orders as quickly as possible."

Both devices went on sale in the UK, US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico and Singapore last weeek, and will go on sale in 20 more countries on Friday.

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were announced two weeks ago in Cupertino. The iPhone 6 features a 4.7-inch screen, while the larger iPhone 6 Plus' 5.5-inch display was subject to a little criticism for being too big.

They are available across the UK's main networks: Three, Vodafone, EE and O2, starting at 30.99 per month, but be prepared to pay a chunky upfront fee if you want to keep that monthly cost down.

Virgin Media said yesterday that 33 per cent of Apple devices using the company's Underground internet services were running iOS 8, despite initial reports saying takeup of the Apple update was slower than previous years.

If you're thinking about getting an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, we have some tips when it comes to choosing the handset, what you can expect and even ways to save money on the purchase.

1. Get a 64GB or 128GB model

The 16GB models may be the cheapest but the limited amount of physical storage isn't going to last long when you're dealing with HD files and ever increasing numbers of apps.

Users with older 16GB iPhones have already found upgrading to iOS 8 is difficult as it requires 5.8GB of storage space before the installation process begins. With no room to expand storage via a micro SD card, investing in a larger capacity iPhone will cause you less frustration in the long run.

2. You'll need a case

Apple has used anodised aluminum and rounded corners for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Whilst the devices are comfortable to hold, they can easily slip out of your hand.

Recode reviewer Walt Mossberg admitted that he dropped his review sample in the driveway, smashing the screen and that he had to be sent a replacement.

Social media is also chocked full of people complaining about dropping their handsets. As Apple has yet to introduce the tougher sapphire glass display, dropping the device is likely to result in a cracked screen.

To minimise the chances of critical damage, you should buy a cover at the time of purchase.

Battery life in an important consideration when picking an iPhone because you can't swap out the battery on the move. The iPhone 6 Plus has the best battery life of any iOS smartphone to date largely because it's got the biggest battery (2915mAh). While the iPhone 6 is reportedly making it through a full day out-of-the-box, it looks like the bigger 5.5in device is for power users.

Apple has also made it easier to keep on top of battery life. There is now an option in iOS 8 to see exactly which apps are draining the power and - when you're really low on juice - it's possible to turn on greyscale mode to save power.

4. Save money by using a trade-in program

If you've got an iPhone 5s (or earlier) and you're itching to get the latest model, it's possible to save some cash by trading in.

For an unlocked 16GB iPhone 5s with no display damage or scratches on the rear, you could receive a maximum of 270 via Apple's official trade-in program. The larger the storage capacity, the more you'll get in return.

A quick comparison with third party trade-in programs shows that Apple's is quite generous:

FoneBank - 270 (unlocked)Mazuma - 250 (unlocked)O2 - 241Vodafone - 240Asda - 240Three - 220Carphone Warehouse - 198EE - 170

5. Purchase protection?

AppleCare+ insurance for the iPhone is available starting at 79 and includes two years of coverage. Under the terms, Apple will cover you for two incidents of accidental damage - subject to a 55 excess. Battery depletion is also part of the agreement, so if battery life falls off a cliff after the first year, you'll be entitled to a replacement.

However, if you're not willing to stump up for insurance, it's worth noting that credit card companies include protection against accidental damage as part of their terms of service too.

Most American Express cards offer accidental damage coverage up to 90 days after purchase (50 excess) as does the Post Office credit card. The Ulster Bank credit card offers up to 100 days of protection. It's worth checking to see if your credit card terms and conditions offer such an option.

6. What are the waiting times?

There is already a 3-4 week waiting time for all versions of the iPhone 6 Plus on the Apple UK website. It appears the 5.5in screen is proving the most popular handset, as it has a slightly better camera, longer battery life and more screen space.

A 16GB edition of the iPhone 6 will be dispatched in 7-10 working days, but the 64 and 128GB models will take a month to arrive.

7. How good is the camera?

The iPhones ship with an 8-megapixel rear camera, which may not seem as much as the 20.7-megapixels in the Xperia Z3 or the 41-megapixels found on Microsoft's Lumias. However, Apple has included Focus Pixels, which are typically found in DSLRs.

Travel photographer Austin Mann took the iPhone 6 Plus to Iceland in a comprehensive field test. He concluded that the 6 Plus had excellent low-light performance and also praised the re-focusing capabilities. Many other reviewers have also commented that this is one of the best all-round cameras on a smartphone.

Apple has opened up the Touch ID API allowing companies to use their apps in conjunction with the fingerprint scanner. Some notable apps already using Touch ID include:

• Amazon
• Evernote
• 1Password
• LastPass
• Simple

9. iOS 8 offers plenty of new features but there are bugs

The latest versions of iOS typically contain bugs and problems have been reported with Dropbox and accessibility features like VoiceOver. However, these are expected to be ironed out quickly and the software does introduce a raft of upgrades.

- Third party keyboards - It's now possible to install and use popular third party keyboards like the Skype and Swiftkey.

- Scan credit cards - With iOS 8 you can scan credit cards and the information will automatically be pulled in.

- Use Siri hands-free -When the iPhone is plugged into a power source, it's possible to interact with Siri without having to press the home button. Simply say Hey Siri'. This is useful when you're using your device in-car.

- Find your phone even when battery is dead - Go to Settings > iCloud > Find my iPhone and make sure Send Last Location' is toggled on. This way you can check the last location of the handset even when the battery has run out.

- Handoff works with OS X - Apple continues to integrate iOS and OS X together. When OS X Yosemite arrives you'll be able to make/answer calls from your iPhone on your Mac or iPad, send/receive messages from any device and also continue where you left off browsing.

- More control over location settings - iOS 8 now allows you to see exactly which apps are using your location and offers you more control over if they can access this information.

There are now three location settings for apps: Never', While Using the App' and 'Always'. 10. Apple Pay to coming to UK in 2015

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are the first iOS devices to ship with NFC chips. Apple has also debuted its own Apple Pay system in conjunction with American Express, Mastercard and Visa.

Users can make purchases via their iPhones in over 220,000 stores in the US. These transactions are authorised via the Touch ID fingerprint scanner.

The system is expected to come to the UK in 2015 - but there are no concrete dates available. It should also be noted that at this moment in time the NFC chip only works with Apple Pay.

iOS 8 adoption has been slower than iOS 7, according to a number of reports monitoring the download rates of Apple's latest mobile operating system.

Mixpanel said only around 14.22 per cent of Apple device users downloaded and installed iOS 8 on launch day, showing a slight decline from last year's update when 15 per cent of users installed iOS 7 on the day of release.

Two days after its release, 38 per cent of iPhone, iPod and iPad users had downloaded the new update, but this year just 21.6 per cent of the world's Apple mobile users had installed the update.

Rival analytics firms Tapjoy and Chitika also found fewer people had downloaded the iOS 8 update in comparison to last year's launch.

The reason behind this decline could be because of the huge amount of storage needed to download the update. Most iDevice users have photos, music and apps installed on their devices, meaning they didn't have enough space to download and install the 5.8GB update and were forced to delete their content before doing so.

Other reasons people may have held back is because they were waiting for the bugs to be rectified before taking the leap. Previous versions of iOS have proven to be unstable on release, despite going through a rigorous beta testing.

Chitika said in its blog: "Perhaps most importantly, the pool of iPhones eligible to upgrade to iOS 8 is limited to iPhone 5S, 5C, 5, and 4S models, and many outlets have suggested that iPhone 4S users should not upgrade due to subsequent performance and functionality issues."

However, Tapjoy said the reason was most likely because people were waiting for Apple's new hardware to be released rather than update older devices: "This is likely due to having a separate release schedule for the software and hardware with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus not having been delivered to consumers just yet. It could also be because the download takes up quite a bit of space."

iOS 8 users are being urged not to microwave their phones, following the circulation of a spoof online ad telling them that doing so would quickly re-charge their iPhones and iPads.

The fake Apple ad details a fictitious new feature of iOS 8 called Wave that reportedly allows devices to be "charged wirelessly through microwave frequencies".

It then goes on to state that Wave is automatically activated when users update to iOS 8, the latest version of Apple's iPhone and iPad operating system which was released on Wednesday 17 September.

"You can now Wave-charge your device by placing it within a household microwave for a minute and a half," the ad states.

"iOS 8 contains new drivers that interface with your device's radio-baseband allowing it to synchronise with microwave frequencies and use them to recharge your battery."

The missive has been distributed around social networking sites, including Twitter, with some users falsely claiming to have successfully charged their devices in their kitchen microwaves.

Meanwhile, another Twitter user claims to have tried it, but succeeded only in burning his iPhone.

This isn't the first time iPhone and iPad users have been targeted by online pranksters. In the wake of last year's iOS 7 release, users were told upgrading to the new mobile operating system would result in their devices becoming waterproof.

IT Pro contacted Apple for comment on this story, but was still awaiting a response at the time of writing.

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are now available to buy, with early indications suggesting the larger of the two devices might prove to be the most popular.

THe consumer electronics giant debuted two new iPhones at its launch event last week, including a 4.7in smartphone (the iPhone 6) and a 5.5in phablet (the iPhone 6 Plus).

Handsets are due to start shipping and will be available in stores from today (19 September).

Below, we take a look at the deals each of the major UK mobile networks are offering on both devices, before going on to offer a thorough breakdown of the hardware specs of each one.

4 million pre-orders

Apple has announced 4 million units have been ordered within the first 24 hours. The firm claims this this is the most it has ever taken.

This reportedly exceeds the number of iPhones Apple has in supply, and some customers will not receive their handsets until later in September and October.

Additional phones will be available to Apple store walk-in customers on 19 September.

Pricing

SIM-free UK pricing is as follows:

iPhone 6 - 16GB (539), 64GB (619), 128GB (699)

iPhone 6 Plus - 16GB (619), 64GB (699), 128GB (789)

The devices are also available on subsidised contracts:

Three

As is the case with all its other 4G-enabled devices, Three doesn't charge extra for high-speed internet services and pre-orders are open now.

iPhone 6

You can choose from three tariffs on Three for the iPhone 6, across the 16GB, 64GB and 128GB varieties. All tariffs include unlimited minutes and will set you back 99 upfront but it's the data and capacity that determines the monthly price.

16GB: If you want unlimited data, you'll need to go for the top tariff that costs 45 a month. The next down gives you 2GB data a month for 41 and the cheapest will cost 38 a month with 1GB data included.

64GB: For unlimited internet, you'll be paying 50 a month, 2GB data will cost 46 a month, while 1GB data will set you back 43 a month.

128GB: Add another fiver on a month for the 128GB device. A plan with unlimited data will cost 55 a month, 2GB data 51 and 1GB 48 a month.

iPhone 6 Plus

The bigger iPhone 6 follows the same guidelines: 99 upfront and unlimited minutes.

16GB: Unlimited internet will cost 51 a month, 2GB data 47 a month and 1GB data 44 a month.

64GB: If you want all-you-can-eat data, you'll have to invest 56 a month for the iPhone 6 Plus 64GB, while 2GB data will cost 52 a month and the least data - 1GB will cost 49 a month.

128GB: The 128GB iPhone 6 Plus will cost you 99 upfront and then 60 a month for unlimited data, 57 for 2GB data and 54 a month for 1GB data.

EE

Unlike Three where you can find a pretty straightfoward pricing structure, EE offers a whole heap of tariffs that may get a little confusing. Some tariffs include Double speed 4G, so it's important to decide whether you think standard 4G will be fast enough for you before committing. Here's a lowdown of some of the highlights.

iPhone 6

16GB: The upfront cost for the 16GB iPhone 6 varies from 209.99 for 500MB of data that will cost 30.99 a month, down to 49.99 upfront and 53.99 a month for 20GB data. If you're a more conservative data user, you'll be able to get your hands on the device for around 100 upfront with between 2GB and 4GB data for 40 a month. Most of the higher data plans come with unlimited minutes and texts, while the lower data limits come with fewer inclusive minutes.

64GB: If you want a little more storage on your device, the 64GB iPhone 6 is available for between 229.99 and 49.99 upfront. Tariffs are also a little more expensive, with the 500MB data a month costing 35.99 a month and 2GB data setting you back 45 a month. If you need 20GB data, you'll find yourself committing to 58.99 a month for 24 months.

128GB: The 128GB iPhone 6 will cost 329.99 if you want the least committment a month of 35.99 for 500MB data. The most expensive option will cost the slightly less shocking 149.99 upfront, but it will cost 58.99 a month. If you only want between 2GB data, you'll pay either 289.99 or 249.99 upfront depending on whether you want double speed 4G or not and it'll cost around 45 a month.

iPhone 6 Plus

16GB: EE's 16GB iPhone 6 Plus is available on tariffs offering between 500MB data and 20GB data. The lowest tariff will cost 30.99 a month with a cost of 309.99 upfront, while the 20GB data option costs 99.99upfront and then 53.99 a month thereafter. If you want to pay less, the iPhone 6 Plus is available with 5GB data for 179.99 upfront and an ongoing cost of 45.99 a month.

64GB: For similar price plans but boosting the capacity up to 64B, you'll pay 35.99 a month and 329.99 upfront for 500GB, 50.99 a month and 249.99 upfront for 5GB data and 149.99 upfront and 58.99 for 20GB of double speed 4G.

128GB: The highest capacity iPhone 6 Plus is also the most expensive of Apple's new lineup. For light data users, you'll be able to get your hands on the device for 379.99 upfront and then 40.99 a month with 500MB data. More sensible limits of 2GB-5GB are also available and these will cost 329.99 upfront with ongoing monthly costs 50.99 and 55.99

O2

With O2's Refresh tariffs, you pay a monthly cost for the phone and then the tariff on top. You can also opt to pay some of the phone cost upfront that will reduce your monthly payment.

iPhone 6

16GB: All iPhone 6 16GB tariffs include unlimited calls and texts, but you'll pay between 18 a month and 28 a month for the data plans. For 28 a month (48 a month including the phone's monthly payment), you'll get 20GB data and for 18 a month (38 a month including the phone's monthly payment), 2GB data. You can also sign up to a 23 a month airtime plan that will give you 5GB data a month.

64GB: If you want to boost your phone's capacity, the airtime plans cost the same, but the phone plan will cost more. For example, if you choose to pay 69.99 upfront, you'll pay 25 a month for the phone, but if yoou don't want to pay anything when you sign up, you'll pay 30 a month for the phone.

128GB: The 128GB iPhone 6 costs at least 29.99 upfront, up to the full retail 789.99 cost if you want to minimise your monthly payments and just pay for the airtime, which follow the same patterns as the 16GB version. You'll have to pay between 20 and 30 a month for the device too, depending on how much you're prepared to stup up in advance.

iPhone 6 Plus

16GB: You'll pay the same as the iPhone 6 for your airtime tariffs whatever iPhone 6 Plus you buy, but you'll have to pay more for the phone - between 20 and 30. The lowest cost will apply if you decide to pay 129.99 upfront, 25 if you pay 49.99 upfront and 30 a month if you'd rather not pay anything when signing up.

64GB: You'll have to pay at least 29.99 upfront for the iPhone 6 Plus and even with that, you'll be paying 30 a month for the device. Pay a little more when you buy - 119.99 - and that monthly phone cost will drop to 25 and 20 a month when you pay 209.99 in advance. These costs are on top of the monthly airtime charges you'll need to pay.

128GB: For the highest capacity iPhone, be prepared to fork out a lot. In addition to the monthly airtime charges of 18, 23 and 28 a month, you'll need to pay between 25 and 35 a month for the device. This is on top of an upfront fee of anything between 9.99 and 879.99.

Vodafone

All 4G Red plans ship with unlimited UK minutes and UK texts.

iPhone 6

The 16GB model available at no upfront cost when you sign up to a 53.50 per month (24-month) contract. This includes a 10GB of 4G allowance, a 6 month subscription to Netflix as well as a choice between a 2-year subscription to Spotify or Sky Sports Mobile TV.

If you trade in your old iPhone 5, 5c or 5s you'll get a 5 discount on the monthly bill, which will drop to 48.50.

For the 64GB model with a 10GB allowance, the monthly charge is 58.50 with a 29 upfront fee. This downpayment rises to 109 if you opt for 128GB of internal storage.

iPhone 6 Plus

The 16GB iPhone 6 Plus is available for no upfront cost at 53.50 per month (24 months) if you trade in an iPhone 5, 5c or 5s. This includes 10GB of data and the subscriptions to Netflix and Spotify or Sky Sports Mobile TV.

If you don't have a device to trade-in the monthly cost is 58.50 and there is a 19 upfront fee.

What's the difference between the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus?

Display & size -The iPhone 6 is the smaller of the two devices measuring in at 4.7ins (1334 x 750). It has 326 pixels-per-inch (ppi) and a 500 cd/m2 brightness. The iPhone 6 weighs 129g and is 6.9mm thick.

The 6 Plus is the biggest iOS device to date with a 5.5in (1920 x 1080) panel. This has 401 pixels-per-inch (ppi) and a 500 cd/m2 brightness. Being the larger device, it is slightly thicker (7.1mm) and heavier (172g) than the iPhone 6.

Release date & price

The iPhones will be available to pre-order from the 12 September.

They will begin shipping on the 19 September in theUS, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK.

As the both the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are considerably larger than the 5s, Apple has made changes to the interface.

Display Zoom will make make all content on the device bigger when activated.

Another feature is dubbed "Reachability". This shifts the screen down toward the bottom making it possible to interact with an app with one hand. It is activated by double tapping the home button.

Processor - The devices are powered by the second generation Apple A8 64-bit processor, which the firm claims delivers a 20 per cent improvement in processing power over the previous generation.

M8 co-processor- This is now capable of measuring distance and elevation via a barometer.

Battery life- Apple is claiming better battery life compared to the 5s. The iPhone 6 will offer up to 11 hours of video and Wi-Fi browsing. Meanwhile, the 6 Plus offers 14 hours of video and 12 hours of web browsing.

Connectivity - The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus both support a total of 20 4G bands and theoretical download speeds of up to 150Mbps.

NFC is included for the first time on the iOS devices. Users will be able to tap to pay for goods using the Apple Pay system, with purchases authorised via Touch ID.

Voice over LTE (VoLTE) is supported to increase the quality of phone calls.Wi-Fi is 802.11ac is built-in as standard and Wi-Fi calling is supported in the US (T-Mobile) and UK (EE).

Cameras - Both devices have 8-megapixel iSight cameras with a True Tone flash, BSI sensor and f/2.2 aperture. The iPhones use "phase detection" to autofocus twice as fast as the previous model.

A key difference is that the iPhone 6 has digital image stabilisation and the iPhone 6 Plus has optical image stabilisation.

There's a new FaceTime camera too, with the sensor now allowing in with 81 per cent more light.

Were the rumours correct? Find out over the page...

The iPhone 6 is expected to make its debut at a launch event tonight, 9 September, in Cupertino, along with the iWatch and - possibly - the iPad Air 2.

The firm is widely-tipped to be introducing two new iPhone models tonight, including a 4.7in and a 5.5in phablet.

This echoes last year's launch event, which saw Apple unveil the flagship iPhone 5s and the lower-cost iPhone 5c.

At the time of writing, little is known about how this year's models will compare to the 2013 versions on the pricing front.

However, data from price comparison site CompareMyMobile suggests the release of the iPhone 6 will result in trade-in prices for the iPhone 5s falling by up to 52.

In terms of launch data hype, the firm's data also revealed a spike in iPhone trade-in rates in the two weeks leading up to the 9 September launch event.

For example, the company claims to have seen a 158.3 per cent uptick in trade-ins for the iPhone 5s 64GB model and a 146.17 per cent jump in people trading in the 32GB version.

Ahead of the official unveiling, a number of key specifications appear to have been leaked. Apple will no doubt have some surprises in store, but here's what we know about the iPhone 6 so far...

Different display sizes

Code found in a test version of the new iPhone has sparked speculation that the phone's display will be sharper than older models. The code was discovered by developer James Thomson, according to The Independent, and indicates that the iPhone 6 will allow users to view much clearer images than before.

iPhone 6 or iPhone Air?

Apple may choose to switch up the naming system with the next-generation iPhone like it has done with the iPad range.

It wouldn't be a surprise if one of the devices was dubbed the 'iPhone Air' and the other was christened the 'new iPhone'.

It was previously reported that Apple was testing the iPhone 6 with a 1706 x 960 resolution display, with 416ppi for the 4.7in model and 356ppi for the 5.5in model. This resolution is three times higher than the base rate of 568 x 320 pixels.

The iPhone 6 will have the same 16:9 aspect ratio as the iPhone 5, iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, it is claimed, but the screen will be taller and wider than these models. This will make it relatively simple for developers to take the increased screen size into account.

The 5.5in model, dubbed a "phablet", will put Apple in a position to battle Samsung's Galaxy range, which has previously been leading in the screen size category.

Fuelling rumours even further, a Weibo user has uploaded what appears to be a legitimate sneak peek at the new Apple handset, with photos and video of the device, reported by 9to5mac.

This is thought to be legitimate mainly because of the new Passbook icon on display, as well as evidence of iOS animations' trademark smoothness.

Materials

Apple has invested heavily in Liquidmetal and sapphire in order to improve both the appearance and the durability of the device. The firm has reportedly spent $20 million on getting exclusive rights to the materials and a further $578 million on mass production of the sapphire glass coating, according to Apple Insider.

Making the new iPhone 6 stronger is seemingly at the top of Apple's list of priorities, with potassium and sodium ion treatments on the phone's glass cover making it much more shock and damage-proof. Sapphire is the second hardest substance after diamond. A shock-absorber could also be a part of the inside tech.

Key hardware features

Information regarding the 4.7in iPhone 6's hardware specs was leaked by Sonny Dickson (viaDaily Tech), indicating the handset will sport a 64-bit, dual-core Apple A8 processor, with 1GB of RAM. This is way behind most Android devices, which usually ship with between 2GB and 3GB of RAM.

Rumours of a 12-megapixel camera and 128GB of storage have previouslyemerged. We can also expect it to be available in a variety of colours.

Apps

With apps, Apple is keen to work on many of the features that threatened to derail their previous releases with improvements made to Apple Maps and new additions such as iWallet, a 3D camera and iWatch, an app to go with Apple's as-yet-unconfirmed foray into wearable health tech.

9to5mac also reports that the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 could display apps with dual-panes when in landscape mode in much the same way as the iPad.

Given that iOS 8, the latest version of Apple's mobile operating system, was released on 17 September, iPhone users should be treated to a wealth of new features that complement the apps they already have on their devices.

NFC

Speculation around the possibility of the next iPhone introducing NFC functionality had been building in the run up to the launch, and it's now been confirmed that iPhone 6 users will be able to use their devices to pay for goods and services using a new service called Apple Pay.

This is being rolled out in the US first, and - although there's no definite go live date for the UK yet - it's widely tipped to make it's debut over here some time in 2015.

This article was originally published on the 02/06/14 and has been updated numerous times to reflect new information, most recently on 19/09/14.

Early reviews of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are in and the general verdict across the board is that Apple has nailed it with the larger designs.

The quality and size of the display and camera have been lauded as stand-out features. Battery life has also improved - particularly with the 6 Plus.

Reviewers were also impressed with the ergonomics and metallic feel of the handsets. However, the protruding camera lens and the lines that are on the back of the devices means they aren't the prettiest iPhones to-date.

Interestingly, the iPhone 6 has had better scoring reviews so far - despite packing a smaller 4.7in screen, lacking optimal image stabilisation and having a shorter battery life.

The Verge was one of the three publications to test both handsets and give the iPhone 6 a higher score.

iPhone 6 - 9/10

Display - The 4.7in screen is deemed to be an extremely good display with great colour reproduction and phenomenal viewing angles.

Camera - Despite lacking Optical Image Stabilisation - the 8-megapixel camera on the iPhone 6 is described as "fantastic". The revamped sensor with Focus Pixels means autofocusing is faster than ever.

"It never appears to be focusing," the reviewer pointed out.

Battery life - So far the device has been lasting over a day, thanks to the bigger battery.

"I still charge it almost every night, but at least I'm not forced to baby the battery just to get it through dinner anymore."

iPhone 6 Plus - 8.7/10

Display - Labelled the 5.5in display as "stunning" and great for multimedia consumption.

"If you're a traveler who carries an iPad just for movies on the road, the 6 Plus is going to be your best friend."

Work still needs to be done on the apps, which are scaled up and using the larger screen takes time to adjust especially when you are using the newly-designed landscape keyboard.

Camera - Highest praise was reserved for the 8-megapixel snapper which features Optical Image Stabilisation for the first time. The Verge claims it's the "best smartphone camera" it has tested to-date.

Battery life -The iPhone 6 Plus has been offering 2 days of battery life. But it's early days and the review was quick to point out the day will come when the device will "inevitably" need to be stuffed into a battery case.

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Engadget also gave the edge to the smaller iPhone 6. The reviews praised the iOS 8 update even though it feels like Apple is "playing catchup" to Android.

iPhone 6 - 90/100

Display - Remains comfortable to hold despite being noticeably larger than the iPhone 5s. Colour replication is less saturated than the Super Amoled technology on the Galaxy Note range.

Camera - The 8-megapixel sensor is dubbed "modest" but the Focus Pixels don't disappoint - making it easier to snap images back-to-back without losing focus.

Battery life - It could be better. The iPhone 6 last 6 hours and 19 minutes in a video playback test - slightly worse than the 5s (10 hours 50 minutes).

It also managed 13 hours of real-word usage.

iPhone 6 Plus - 87/100

Display - Images and text are sharper on the 6 Plus - but it's not enough to choose it over the 6. The 5.5in screen has its disadvantages too. One-handed usage is "frustrating and uncomfortable", despite the inclusion of the reachability mode.

Camera - The camera holds it own against most flagship competitors in terms of low-light. It's "near top in every scenario".

Optical image stabilisation helps images to comes out sharper than on the iPhone 6

Battery life - The 6 Plus lasted 12 hours in the video loop test - and managed 17 hours of real world usage.

"With moderate to light usage, you should expect to see the Plus get roughly a day and a half, if not more."

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The Independentwasthe third publication to find in favour of the iPhone 6.

iPhone 6 - 5 stars

Display - Offering "faithful, natural colours" the screen iPhone 6 looks spectacular.

Camera - The lack of a higher pixel count doesn't affect quality. Pictures are "so effectively processed and adjusted in the phone that they can look instantly stunning."

Battery life - Is dubbed "massively improved" but the reviewer pointed out that its conceivable it could be flagging by lunchtime for power users.

iPhone 6 Plus - 4 stars

Display - The display is richer than the smaller iPhone 6."This is really more like a little iPad that makes calls than anything else."

Camera - Thanks to the addition of the optical image stabilisation, and better lower light performance - "this is Apple's best camera".

Battery life - "The iPhone 6 Plus just keeps going. I found it seriously capable of going strong even when I didn't charge it for two successive nights."

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The Guardian found little to differentiate between the two devices, giving them both top marks.

iPhone 6 - 5 stars

Display - Deemed excellent for colour and brightness. The swiping gestures from the side of the screen also work well because of the way the glass curves around to the edge.

Camera - Shoots better pictures that the iPhone 5s.

Battery life - Battery life is "about 30 per cent" better than the 5s. You can get one day's use out of it.

iPhone 6 Plus - 5 stars

Display - The extra screen space is welcome - but "many apps will need rewriting to deal with the new screen".

Camera - "Expect this device to become the new 'must-have' among photographers who like traveling light."

Battery life - No figures provided but it is has the "best battery life of any iPhone".

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The Telegraph labelled the iPhone 6 as "Apple's best phone ever" and also gave the 6 Plus full marks.

iPhone 6 - 5 stars

Display - Whilst the display is not class-leading with its 326ppi density, most users will not be able to perceive differences between this panel and its rivals.

Camera - Despite dubbing it the weakest aspect of the iPhone 6, due to a lack of 4K recording and optimal image stabilisation, it is "the best camera of its class on the market".

Battery life - This is now at the point where it lasts the day.

iPhone 6 Plus - 5 stars

Display - It's big but not too awkward and the reachability mode, which brings everything to the bottom half is deemed to be "genius". Landscape mode is a welcome addition.

Camera - "Apple is able to get decent pictures out of hardware that should really be better." And although optical image stabilization makes a difference, it's not a reason to choose the 6 Plus over the 6.

Battery life - The 6 Plus's battery lasted two days, but the reviewer pointed out that many who purchase the phone will use it more intensively, so should expect a shorter life span.

One of the biggest talking points surrounding Apple's iPhone 6 and iPhone 6+ handsets, unveiled at the event last week and set to go on sale this Friday, has been the introduction of NFC technology.

Now, however, it has been revealed via an email to CultofMac that the NFC chip present on the new phone and phablet will not be compatible with anything other than Apple Pay.

This means that many of the uses people were looking forward to will be impossible for the near future, such as pairing devices, automating household items and sharing contact information.

Developers will now have to put many of these ideas on hold, as the NFC chip in this case is reportedly being thought of as a feature of Apple Pay, rather than a selling point in and of itself.

This restriction is thought to be continuing for at least the first year of release, though it could go on for longer.

Android devices have had NFC technology for a while, but Apple is tying it tightly to Apple Pay, their secure mobile payments system which will be available on the iPhone 6, iPhone 6+ and Apple Watch.

A number of outlets that will accept these payments, including Disney, Nike and McDonalds, were listed at the Apple event last week.

Apple Pay will use the credit card information they have already collected via iTunes to allow users to make purchases with their iPhone, though they have assured customers that information is actually stored after doing so, decreasing the security risk.

Apple has taken 4 million pre-orders for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, which is claims is a new record.

The amount of pre-orders is reportedly more than the initial number of devices available and, while some will be shipped to customers from Friday September 19, others will not arrive until later in the month and in October.

Customers will also be able to pick up one of the handsets from Apple stores from 8am on Friday.

Both the 4.7in iPhone 6 and 5.5in iPhone 6 Plus will be available from O2, Vodafone, EE, Three, GiffGaff, Virgin Media, TalkMobile and other carriers.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said: "iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are better in every way, and we are thrilled customers love them as much as much as we do. Pre-orders for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus set a new record for Apple, and we can't wait to get our best iPhones yet into the hands and customers starting this Friday."

Pre-orders for the handsets ran into problems last Friday, with many users finding they were unable to access Apple's online store.

The suggested retail price for the 16GB iPhone 6 is 539, 619 for the 64GB model and 699 for the 128GB model.

The price for the iPhone 6 Plus is suggested at 619 for the 16GB model, 699 for the 64GB and 789 for the 128GB.

Pre-orders for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus open today, but Apple fans are up in arms about the fact they've been unable to access the firm's online store this morning to request one.

As confirmed by Apple CEO Tim Cook on Tuesday, pre-orders for the 4.7in iPhone 6 and the 5.5in iPhone 6 Plus phablet open today, with the devices set to go on general release next Friday.

Anxious iPhone buyers have inundated social media sites today, though, with complaints about the online Apple Store being down since midnight, preventing them from ordering one directly from the firm.

The Apple Store regularly shuts down ahead of a new product release for several hours, and at the time of writing the site was displaying the firm's usual "We'll be right back" message.

However, some users claim to have been able to access the store via an iOS app, suggesting the desktop version of the site has been late to open on pre-order day.

And, when users have made it on to the site, some claim to have waited up to an hour to have their pre-order request accepted, or to have encountered errors when trying to do so.

The devices are also available to pre-order via UK carriers, including Vodafone, O2, Three and EE today, as well as Phones 4U.

That being said, the EE and O2 sites were under "maintenance" this morning, and Three said it was planning to open up the devices for pre-ordering this afternoon.

Meanwhile, Phones 4U and Vodafone appear to be accepting pre-orders this morning.

The carriers have also revealed the UK pricing for the device. A thorough breakdown of just how much an iPhone 6 will cost you can be found here.

Google has announced it'll be supporting the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus launches with an iOS Sync solution that will protect files, emails, documents and other Google apps on Apple OS-based devices.

The company launched the offering to appeal to those who use their iPhone as a work device alongside its own Android device management solution.

iOS Sync will come ready-integrated into the Gmail and Google Drive apps for iOS, so users don't need to download anything extra. Itt also supports iOS 7 so if users prefer to stay on the older OS, they're still safe.

Clayton Jones, product manager for Google for Work, said: "Marvel and DC Comics, Star Wars and Star Trek, Emacs and VIwe all have our favorites. And then there's iOS and Android, each with dedicated fans. Regardless of which you prefer, there's no reason your device of choice should get in the way of your work."

iOS Sync should aid management for IT decision makers, allowing them to set a policy so that when an employee logs into Google Apps including Gmail and Google Drive using their work email and password, they're prompted to activate their device.

Wi-Fi networks and certificates for employees can also be configured, so they are only able to connect to trusted networks.

Google's iOS Sync will support any other policies set up on your company's devices and it won't replace those security measures, so firms will still be able to remotely wipe a device, approve applications and block devices if they fall into the wrong hands.

iOS Sync will start rolling out to device running iOS 7 and iOS 8 next week and will be available for Google Apps for Work, Google Apps for Education and Google Apps for Government.

The iPhone 6 lands in the UK on 19 September, bringing a number of hardware improvements. But are there enough to justify an upgrade from the previous generation?

If you're thinking about trading up from an older handset, it may still be worth investing in the iPhone 5s, which now starts at 459 and will be able to run iOS 8 from 17 September.

Here we take a look at the key differences between the iPhone 6 and 5s:

Display size

iPhone 5s - 4in (1136 x 640) Retina Display, 500cd/m2 brightness, 326ppi

iPhone 6 - 4.7in (1334 x 750) Retina Display HD, 500 cd/m2 brightness, 326ppi

The display on the iPhone 6 has a slightly higher resolution but pixel density and brightness remain the same. Apple claims to have increased the viewing angles on the latest device by using dual-domain pixels.

Having a larger screen size means the iPhone 6 has a couple of additional interface features. These come in the form of Display Zoom and Reachability.

Display Zoom increases the size of the icons or apps on screen and reachability moves apps toward the bottom of the display making it possible to use the device in one-handed mode.

Battery life

Apple is touting modest improvements in battery life between the iPhone 6 and 5s. Both quote 10 hours of 4G browsing, but the iPhone 6 offers four hours extra talk time (14 hours).

As with all iOS products, the batteries on the iPhone 6 and 5s are not user replaceable.

Performance

iPhone 5s - A7 64-bit processor + M7 co-processor and 1GB RAM

iPhone 6 - A8 - 64-bit processor + M8 processor and 1GB RAM

Using it's second generation 64-bit processor, Apple is claiming CPU performance has increased by up to 25 per cent and graphics performance by 50 per cent from the iPhone 5s.

Apple has added a barometer so the M8 co-processor in the iPhone 6 is capable of measuring distance and can also differentiate between elevation.

During the presentation, Phil Schiller, SVP of marketing at Apple, claimed the iPhone 6 will be able to sustain high-performance without generating as much heat as its predecessor.

Camera

iPhone 5s - 8-megapixel iSight with True Tone flash, BSI sensor

iPhone 6 - 8-megapixel iSight with True Tone flash, BSI sensor

There's little to differentiate the cameras in terms of megapixels but Apple has improved the sensor, enhanced face detection and increased the speed of auto-focus in the iPhone 6.

In terms of video recording, the iPhone 6 now offers continuous autofocus and video stabilisation as well as the option to record HD video at 60fps. The 5s only offers the ability to do so at 30fps.

Storage

iPhone 5s - 16GB or 32GB

iPhone 6 - 16GB, 64GB or 128GB

The iPhone 6 is available with up to 128GB, so users will be able to store plenty of content without having to worry about transferring it off. The 5s is limited to 16 and 32GB variants.

NFC

The iPhone 6 finally brings NFC connectivity to iOS devices. This will work in conjunction with the firm's Apple Pay system - so you can tap to pay for goods in participating stores. This feature will initially roll out to 220,000 stores across the US, with key territories such as the UK expected to get the system in 2015.

Is it worth the upgrade?

The feature set of the iPhone 5s is almost identical to the iPhone 6 - with the key differences being the screen size and the ability to use Apple Pay. Whilst there are also performance upgrades and improvements to the battery life and camera, these don't blow the 5s out of the water.

If you're coming to the end of a contract and you're using an iPhone 4/4S or simply thinking about getting an iOS device, the iPhone 5s represents good value.

Apple Pay, a proprietarywireless payment service made its debut during the grand unveiling of the iPhone 6/6 Plus and its wearable Watch, last night.

We take a closer look at the technology to ascertain how it works, how secure it is, and find out why it took so long for Apple to launch it.

What is Apple Pay?

It's a wireless payment system that's being introduced as part of iOS 8 for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus users that will allow them to pay for goods and services using their smartphones.

Apple Pay: Fast FactsRelease date: October 2014 in the US. UK date to be confirmed.

Works with: iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and the Apple Watch.

Where can I use it?: At 220,000 locations across the US.

For added security, users won't be able to make a payment unless they keep their finger on the iPhone 6's Touch ID biometric finger scanner during transaction, as this will be used to verify their identity.

Hold up. What is NFC exactly?

As mentioned, it stands for near-field communications and is a set of standards that allows mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to communicate wirelessly with other items when in their vicinity.

Usually, the devices have to be a few centimetres apart, or even touching, for a connection to be established and for a payment to be made.

Does that mean my credit card details will be stored on my iPhone if I want to use Apple Pay?

The device draws on either the credit card details the user has registered with iTunes to pay for goods, or they can take a picture of their credit card and upload it to Apple's virtual wallet, Passbook.

During the iPhone launch event, Apple explained that no credit or debit card numbers will be stored on the device or on the company's servers.

Instead, each device is assigned its own Device Account Number (DAN), which is encrypted and stored on the Secure Element chip in the iPhone or Apple Watch.

Each purchase a user makes is authorised with a one-time unique number using the DAN, before Apple Pay creates another single-use security code to verify the transaction.

What happens if I lose my iPhone or Apple Watch?

Nothing, according to Apple. Thanks to the inclusion of Secure Element, the vendor reckons if your device is lost or stolen, your payment details will be impossible to pilfer. But, we will see.

Does Apple Pay only work with the iPhone 6?

Nope. You will also be able to use the service to wirelessly pay for goods and service using the Apple Watch, once it's released in early 2015. This will also make it possible for iPhone 5, iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c users to use Apple Pay, if they purchase the Watch first.

What's Apple Pay's release date?

Apple Pay is going to be released as a free update to iOS 8 for US-based iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users in October. At the time of writing, it was unclear if it will also make its debut in the UK around that time or later.

Where can I pay for goods and services using Apple Pay?

During the iPhone 6 keynote, Apple CEO Tim Cook said 220,000 US stores will accept Apple Pay as a form of payment from launch. At present, it's unclear how many in the UK will be in a position to.

Why has Apple introduced NFC now?

Good question. NFC functionality isn't new, and has featured on a slew of Android and Windows Phone devices over the past couple of years.

It was also hotly-tipped for inclusion in the iPhone 5s and its predecessor, but never materialised, which has left some questioning why it's taken Apple so long to join the NFC party.

In 2012, Phil Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide marketing at Apple, shed some light on this while talking to tech site AllThingsD.

During the discussion he suggested baking NFC capabilities into the iPhone was unnecessary, and wasn't something customers were desperate for either.

Instead, he flagged Passbook Apple's virtual storage wallet for loyalty cards, gift vouchers and flight boarding passes as the feature that "does the kind of things customers need today."

According to YouGov stats from 2013, Schiller's assessment of the market demand for NFC appears fair, as just 35 per cent of UK adults said they knew what the technology can do.

This figure is largely the same as the one flagged in the analyst house's 2012 report, adding further weight to Schiller's claims made at the time.

The study, which featured respondents from 1,051 UK adults, also revealed fewer than 10 per cent realised their smartphone was capable of NFC-enabled wireless payments, while 22 per cent made use of it.

The reasons cited in the report as to why uptake of NFC was so low included concerns about the heightened financial risks users fear they face should their device be lost or stolen.

Meanwhile, 56 per cent said they were simply not interested in using NFC technology to pay for items.

Apple has Touch ID and Secure Element as answers to users' security concerns, but how can it encourage more people to use NFC?

Industry watchers have been projecting strong growth in the frequency that users opt for NFC-style payments, as well as total transaction values in the years to come, way before Apple got involved. So, adoption is on the up, albeit slowly.

Apple could feasibly use its iBeacon technology, which uses location data to alert iPhone users to special promotions being offered in nearby stores, to inform iPhone 6 users that the shop they're in a shop that accepts NFC payments.

That would certainly go some way to solving the awareness issue flagged in the YouGov poll, while Apple could capitalise on this further by offering further in-store discounts to people who shun cash and credit cards to buy goods using Apple Pay.

Apple has confirmed that iPhone 6 users will now be able to use their devices to wirelessly pay for goods and services, thanks to the inclusion of near-field communications (NFC) technology.

The consumer electronics giant used its iPhone 6+ launch event to showcase its new mobile wallet service, Apple Pay, which uses the firm's Touch ID biometric sensor to verify wireless payments.

Users don't have to enter in new credit card details to use the service, as it simply relies on the information the company has on file to purchase content via iTunes.

Alternatively, they have the option to take a picture of their card and upload it to Passbook, where it can be used to pay for items.

However, the firm has been quick to stress that no credit card data is stored on the device. So, if someone loses their phone or it's stolen, their payment security shouldn't be compromised.

The company claims that, when buying something with the iPhone, Apple will not gather any information related to your purchase. This will be between the user, the retailer and the user's bank, they say.

The company has already partnered up with a number of US retailers, who have agreed to participate in Apple Pay transactions.

These include Disney, McDonalds, and Nike, among others.

The introduction of NFC payment technology has been rumoured for some time, with Pac Crest analyst Josh Beck previously saying: "We expect the iPhone 6 to be launched with near-field communications (NFC) and secure element technologies, which would provide Apple with a broad technology portfolio to disrupt mobile payments.

"After analysing the payments, handset, enabling technology and internet landscape, we think a partnership between Apple and Visa would make strategic sense and believe an announcement could happen as early as this fall."

To make NFC payments possible, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6+ feature an NFC chip.

Both handsets will be available to pre-order from 12 September, shipping on 19 September, with iOS 8 set for release on 17 September.

Much has been made about Apple's reticence on the NFC front, as the ability to pay for items wireless has been available to Windows Phone and Android users for some time.

Previously, Apple has explained this away by saying the ability to make wireless payments isn't a priority for its customers.

Apple looks set to take the wraps off a host of products at its launch event in Cupertino later today, with the iPhone 6, iWatch and the next generation iPad Air all expected to put in an appearance.

The event is likely to be presided over by Apple CEO Tim Cook and Phil Schiller, the consumer electronics giant's vice president of worldwide market, if previous launches are anything to go by, and will kick-off at 6pm, UK time.

The IT Pro team will be covering all the news from the event as it happens, with comprehensive breakdowns and comparisons planned for all the kit Apple decides to debut during the keynote, so make sure you check the site often for updates.

Industry sources are suggesting tonight's event could be one of the most ambitious in Apple's history, with two new iPhones tipped to make their debut, along with news of the vendor's first foray into wearable tech in the form of the iWatch, as well as the next-generation iPad Air.

We're also likely to see a comprehensive walkthrough tonight of the various new features packed into Apple's soon-to-be-launched iOS 8 mobile operating system, and possibly how its HomeKit and HealthKit offerings will tie-up with the devices it unveils at the launch.

Below, we take a quick run through the devices that are hotly-tipped to be unveiled tonight, with links to articles we've written about them already, and place our bets on how likely they are to make an appearance.

iPhone 6

September has traditionally seen Apple announce details about a new iPhone it's bringing to market, and this year - as was the case in 2013 - the rumour mill seems to be suggesting that two models could be in the offing.

Last year, this resulted in the highly-praised iPhone 5s, which marked the introduction of the firm's TouchID biometric finger scanner, and the lower cost iPhone 5c.

Whereas cost and specs were the key differentiators between last year's two devices, in 2014 it seems it's all about size for Apple.

According to various reports, the firm is planning to bring a 4.7in smartphone and a 5.5in phablet-style device to market.

You can find out more about both devices, and what's rumoured to be bundled in with them here.

Likelihood of launch: 99.99999 per cent Apple always debuts new iPhones in September, and last year's crop are already falling behind the competition on the specs front, so a refresh is well overdue.

iWatch

With Asus, Sony, Samsung, LG already touting smartwatches of some description, Apple has been accused of being late to the wearable tech party.

However, given Apple's track record for popularising the use of, and improving on, technology that already exists, market watchers have been quick to bat away suggestions the firm's decision to bide its time will cause it harm.

Industry sources claim the device is likely to sport a 2.5in touch screen, which arcs around the wrist, and will have wireless charging capabilities. Furthermore, it's thought the device will also act as a fitness tracker by monitoring health metrics, such as heart rate, calories burnt and the number of steps taken.

Here's a link to our latest news about the iWatch.

Likelihood of launch: The momentum surrounding Apple's iWatch has markedly ramped up in recent months, with the announcement Apple had recruited a former Tag Heuer sales director to help with its development.

Early reports hinted at an October release date for the iWatch, so we'd say there's a75 per cent chance of a shiny wristwatch.

iPad Air 2 AKA New iPad Air

Apple officially did away with the numeric naming convention for its tablet family last October with the launch of the 9.7in iPad Air, which it declared the "lightest, full-size tablet in the world."

The device is due a refresh, with reputable KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggesting last weekthat tonight will be the night Apple announces the iPad Air's successor.

Little is know about the prospective, new device at the moment, although reports suggest it could feature 2GB of RAM and come equipped with Touch ID.

Here's a link to an article featuring further details on the iPad Air 2.

Likelihood of launch: 30 per cent.The iPad Air 2 was a late, prospective addition to the keynote line-up, and - given Apple usually debuts new additions to its tablet family in October, ahead of the holiday rush - we're a little dubious about claims it'll be launched tonight. We could be wrong, but Apple rarely tampers with its release cycles.

Be sure to check back here once the keynote ends to see if any of our predictions were true.

All eyes are on Apple over the next couple of days, leading up to their much-anticipated event expected to host the unveiling of two new iPhone models, a gold iPad Air 2 and the company's first iWatch.

Rumours have now emerged via 9to5mac that the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 handset set to be announced at the event could feature an iPad-like dual-pane display when in landscape mode. This would make the UI of the phablet' much more productivity-friendly, while the portrait mode will stay the same.

This dual-pane display would provide a unique selling point for the larger handset, with the standard (though still sporting an increase in screen size) 4.7-inch acting more like a traditional iPhone.

According to the site, the technology for this has been dubbed "Adaptive UI", which allows the phablet to offer users easier multitasking a la the iPad.

Though these rumours are unconfirmed, it makes sense that Apple's biggest iPhone would host some extra features, straddling the line between phone and tablet as the name suggests.

There has also been speculation that the new handsets' displays will be sharper than older models, with 356ppi planned for the 5.5-inch model and 416ppi for the 4.7-inch model.

Both phones will have the same 16:9 aspect ratio as the iPhone 5, iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, but will be taller and wider.

A new leak on Weibo provides what appears to be the first legitimate look at the new iPhone, fuelling previous rumours and building anticipation for both handsets ahead of Tuesday's event.

Evidence the iPhone 6 will bring mobile payments continues to mount, with the latest rumours coming from a recent Wired report.

It has been speculated the iPhone 6 will arrive with Near Field Communication (NFC) functionality, finally putting Apple's latest handset in the mobile payment market alongside many Android devices.

As is noted in the report, introducing mobile payments would give Apple the opportunity to use the huge collection of credit card information taken from iTunes customers over the years. Any sensitive information would be kept secure by dual wireless protocols.

Mobile payments will be a "hallmark feature" of the phone, according to the source, and the new report matches earlier rumours that surfaced at the beginning of August. Then, it was suggested that Apple and Visa would band together to offer mobile payments for iPhone 6 users.

Josh Beck, Pac Crest analyst, said: "We expect the iPhone 6 to be launched with near-field communications (NFC) and secure element technologies, which would provide Apple with a broad technology portfolio to disrupt mobile payments.

"After analysing the payments, handset, enabling technology and internet landscape, we think a partnership between Apple and Visa would make strategic sense and believe an announcement could happen as early as this fall."

It has also been reported that Apple could be looking to make the iPhone 6 a mobile wallet, talking with credit card companies in the hope of launching it later this year.

According to the figures from Visa Europe, contactless payments have been rapidly growing in popularity, with 19.7 million transactions happening in the UK in May 2014, and an 18 per cent rise in the number of people using their cards to make contactless payments between April and May.

Apple's upcoming iPhone 6 release could be delayed following a disruption to the production of screens for the new device, claims Reuters.

The new iPhone was expected to be widely released in September, but it is now being reported this could be pushed back due to the production problems.

Alternatively, the phone could get a more limited release with fewer devices initially available to customers.

A key component has to be redesigned, it is being said, and this has caused problems for suppliers.

Sources claim the delay is being caused by the backlight, which Apple demanded be cut to a single layer (with the standard being two layers) in pursuit of an even thinner handset.

When the thinner backlight was devised, however, it was deemed too dim and thus Apple had to go back to their initial plans.

Suppliers are now working to get production back on track, but the move could mean the planned release date is not met.

Apple's lofty plans for the iPhone 6 screen have been widely reported, with the company's investment in Liquidmetal and sapphire previously revealed.

This was to improve both appearance and durability, with the phone's glass cover given potassium and sodium ion treatments to make it shock and damage-proof.

The iPhone 6 will be released in two different sizes: one 4.7-inch phone and a 5.5-inch 'phablet'.

These were previously believed to be ready for launch at Apple's media event on 9 September, though it is unclear whether those plans are still in place.

While Apple's iPhone 6 will most likely hit shelves with a new and improved power adapter, it is now being claimed the much-hyped reversible USB cable will not be released alongside it.

According to MacRumours, third-party vendor Moca.co revealed that Apple hasn't ordered the new reversible cables, saying:"We are informed by the Official Appointed Manufacturer of Apple that the new Reversible USB Cable will not be released together with upcoming iPhone 6 and Apple has not placed any order with them yet.

"Apple fans will not be able to get the MFi version of this revolutionary cable from Apple this year but that is not the end of the story."

It was thought Apple was planning to introduce reversible USB-to-Lightning connectors with the iPhone 6, after images of what was believed to be a prototype version emerged online via nowhereelse.

The unverified leaks showed a modified USB cable that can reportedly be plugged in whichever way it happens to be inserted, finally eradicating a long-running problem for the hardware.

This is achieved through a thinner layer of pins placed in the middle, rather than the bulky ones sported by traditional USB connectors.

It's a small change, but one that many users have longed for. This latest round of rumours joins previous ones also suggesting that reversible USB connectors would soon become standard for Apple products.

Something like these new cables were expected to ship with the iPhone 6, set for release in September. Without them, users can still look forward to the new adapter, which will reportedly be compatible with all models of iPhone, iPad mini and iPod.

Apple is making various other changes to its hardware, such as a rumoured sapphire-coated screen aimed at making the handset stronger, and devices in two separate sizes: 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch.

The iPhone 6 will have the same 16:9 aspect ratio as the iPhone 5, iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, with 416ppi for the 4.7-inch and 356ppi for the 5.5-inch versions.

Apple has taken the wrapss off iOS 8 beta 5 for the iPhone, bringing with it new, innovative mapping features.

One new feature, discovered by AppleInsider, is contact data transfer from the Maps app to Spotlight search results and the Recents list.

The latest beta release automatically includes location information from the Maps app, such as a name, address and Yelp data, into the phone's list of recently-dialled numbers and Spotlight search feature.

The feature has been touted as most useful for iPhone users who use Maps to discover nearby locations such as restaurants and entertainment venues, as well as tourists and business travellers getting to know a particular area while away from home.

Before, these people would have to search for the desired location all over again when it was time to go, but now details of where they need to go, as well as contact numbers and more, are available right there in their Recents list.

The feature seems to only work with Maps, however, and not with Siri and Safari.

Other features introduced in previous iOS beta releases include Safari AutoFill for faster logins, a new tips app, and an Ask to Buy' option for more secure in-app purchases on shared devices.

iOS 8 will go on general release alongside the 4.7in and 5.5in iPhone 6, expected in autumn 2014.

Apple will debut its larger-screen iPhones at an event on 9 September, as the firm gears up for its yearly refresh.

Cupertino is expected to launch two devices at the event - a 4.7in device and 5.5in model, according to Recode.

Previous reports mooted 19 September as the possible launch date for the latest range of iPhones. However, this could still be the date the devices start shipping.

Apple is said to have put in an initial order of 70 - 80 million units, the largest it has commissioned for a new mobile product. This is because it expects demand for the larger screen devices to be high.

Until now Apple has offered the iPhone in 3.5in and 4in sizes, whilst competitors - including Samsung, LG and Sony - have had success with 5in+ models.

Little is known about the exact specifications of the device or the name. However, this hasn't stopped the rumour mill from speculating.

Industry watchers believe Apple will be debuting a sapphire crystal display in place of glass, that it will offer users up to 128GB of storage and could even include NFC payment capabilities in conjunction with Visa.

Apple could move away from the number strategy as it has done with the latest generation iPad. Despite everyone calling the forthcoming smartphones the iPhone 6, the handsets could depart from this naming convention to help differentiate them and break up the monotony.

Despite smartphone sales slowing down, Apple managed to shift 35.2 million iPhones - up 12 per cent year-on-year.

Apple and Visa could be joining together to offer mobile payments to iPhone 6 users, Pacific Crest Securities reported in a research note.

The move would put the resulting service in direct competition with eBay's PayPal. Visa recently launched Visa Checkout' to be used by customers online and via an app on mobile devices, as well as investing in startup LoopPay, another mobile payments service.

Predicting an imminent announcement of Apple and Visa's partnership, Pac Crest analyst Josh Beck said: "We expect the iPhone 6 to be launched with near-field communications (NFC) and secure element technologies, which would provide Apple with a broad technology portfolio to disrupt mobile payments.

"After analysing the payments, handset, enabling technology and internet landscape, we think a partnership between Apple and Visa would make strategic sense and believe an announcement could happen as early as this fall," he continued.

The joining together of Apple and Visa was previously predicted earlier in the year, would seem them entering a market that includes potential players like Amazon.com, Wal-Mart's MCX and AT&T, Verizon Communications and T-Mobile US's Isis.

"Visa's recent product announcements, most notably a new token service, could lower security hurdles that have hampered previous mobile payment projects. Visa's new tools provide a clearer path for Apple to become a major player in mobile payments, but we still see relatively little opportunity to generate profits that would be meaningful at Apple's scale," Beck added.

"For eBay, we see risk of increasing competition in e-commerce payments and think if Apple launches a mobile payment solution, it could hurt investor sentiment."

EE recently confirmed that commuters in London will now be able to use their smartphones to pay for buses via its contactless mobile payments system. Users will need to be signed up to EE's mobile network and own a Cash on Tap enabled smartphone.

The service will be rolled out to the London tube network, DLR and Overground train network from 16 September.

Contactless payment is quickly gaining popularity, with consumers using contactless card payments in 19.7 million transactions around the UK in May 2014, according to research from Visa Europe. It also revealed an 18 per cent rise in the number of people using their cards for contactless payments between April and May.

Mark Austin, director of contactless at Visa Europe, said: "[This is] driven by increased consumer awareness, the commitment of UK banks to issue Visa contactless cards and UK retailers activating contactless terminals."

Apple has ordered between 70 and 80 million units of its forthcoming iPhone 6 from suppliers, as the firm is confident larger screen devices will prove popular with customers.

The firm is planning on launching two models - 4.7ins and 5.5ins in size - and the initial order is expected to be completed by 30 December, sources told the Wall Street Journal.

It is unclear how many units of each model have been requested, but this is the largest initial order Apple has commissioned from its suppliers for a smartphone. Last year, between 50 and 60 million iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c devices were initially produced.

Pegatron and Foxconn are set to kick off production of the 4.7in model in August, according to supply chain sources. Foxconn is expected to take sole charge of manufacturing the 5.5in phablet, beginning in September.

The devices are expected to be unveiled on 19 September, a date that was leaked by a Deutsche Telekom representatives to customers.

Specifications

As usual, the specifications of the iPhone 6 are shrouded in secrecy. The firm is said to be testing a 1706 x 960 resolution display, with 416ppi for the 4.7in model and 356ppi for the 5.5in handset.

The iPhone 6 handsets could mark the introduction of sapphire crystal displays in place of traditional glass. This is the second hardest substance known after diamond and should help iPhone screens to be the most robust to date.

However, sapphire crystal adds complexity to the manufacturing process and has been blasted as a sexy marketing gimmick by Gorilla Glass maker Corning.

It's 10 times more expensive, nearly twice the weight and takes 100 times more energy to generate a sapphire crystal than it does glass, according to Tony Tripeny, SVP at Corning.

Apple is preparing to bring to market its largest ever iPhones, with both 4.7in and 5.5in devices reportedly in the works.

Sources told business news site Bloomberg the 4.7in iPhone is likely to be released around September, which is when Apple usually unveils new versions of its flagship smartphone.

The 5.5in iPhone may also be launched around the same time, the sources claimed.

Both devices are tipped to enter production next month.

The move to larger devices is thought to be in response to growing consumer demand for smartphones with larger displays.

The Bloomberg article also claims the next version of the iPhone will be rounder and thinner than previous models.

Apple has declined to comment on the story.

Last September saw Apple debut two devices: the iPhone 5s and 5c. The former was pitched as a premium smartphone, while the latter was billed as Apple's attempt at a budget device.

However, the high pricing of the 5c is thought to have put many consumers off, prompting Apple to curtail product of the device in the months that followed.

According to data released by market watcher Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, the 5c was at one time being outsold by the 4in 5s by a margin of two-to-one.

The high-end model featured a faster processor and Apple's renowned Touch ID fingerprint scanner, while the 5C featured similar tech specs to the iPhone 5 and came in a range of colours.

Perhaps this time around, the company is planning to release two devices of varying size at markedly different price points to help users distinguish between them.

Whatever size the devices end up being, it's almost certain that Apple's next-generation mobile operating system, iOS 8, will make its debut on them.

The vendor outlined the changes it's ushering in with the next version of iOS 8 earlier this month at its WWDC event.

Apple's annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) will kick off later today in San Francisco, and there are plenty of rumours about what might be revealed.

CEO Tim Cook labelled 2014 as the year in which Apple would showcase "amazing new hardware, software and services", so what can we expect to see at Cupertino's biggest showcase?

iOS 8

Apple has all but confirmed iOS 8 will be showcased at WWDC.

Much of the speculation around iOS 8 has been centred on one of its apps called "Healthbook". Leaked screenshots have shown it appearing next to the other debutant apps called Preview and TextEdit. The app will be based on the design of Passbook and will include a number of tabs relating to various health categories. Healthbook will reportedly work together with the forthcoming iWatch, which 9to5Mac's sources claim is "well into development."

iOS 8 is likely to include split-screen functionality for the iPad, too. Users will be able to run two applications at once, similar to the "snap" multitasking features in the Microsoft Surface line. The ability to multitask is popular in business and enterprise, and put the Surface forward as a true laptop replacement. Apple is trying to go one further by providing developers with tools to design apps that can interact with each other when run simultaneously.

OS X 10.10

Apple has confirmed that it will show off the next version of OS X at WWDC, named Syrah. The update is expected to convert the look and feel of iOS 7 across to the Mac. The desktop OS will enjoy a larger presence at WWDC than iOS 8, according to Mark Gurman at 9to5Mac and will feature an end-to-end redesign.

For those worrying that their Mac might be turned into a glorified iPhone, Gurman says that Apple won't move too far towards iOS, instead taking the best features and designs from the handeld OS and importing it to desktop.

iPhone 6

Apple is expected to continue with its annual smartphone release cycle. A Taiwanese newspaper claimed that the next Apple range will be set for release in August.

The new models, according to the Economic Daily News' sources, will feature increased screen sizes (between 4.7in and 5.5in) to rival Samsung's Galaxy series. Though the newspaper's source is shady, the even-numbered iPhones tend to see redesigns, so it could be possible that an announcement at least will be made in June.

Apple customers are so sure that a new model will arrive soon that they have apparently stopped buying the iPhone 5s. Sales for the model are reported to be slowing as WWDC approaches. A survey by 451 March revealed that 40 per cent of Americans said that they would buy the next iPhone, compared to 33 per cent that said the same in 2012.

Straight outta' Cupertino

Beats co-founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre will reportedly join Apple's board following the $3.2 billion acquisition of Beats headphones. The two will be taking executive roles at the company according to sources close to the company. Might they be making an appearance at WWDC 2014?

Apple TV

The television market has always been more of a hobby for Apple than anything. The last major update for Apple TV came in 2012 and competitors have seized on the opportunity: Amazon, Google and Western Digital have all released their own versions, making the set-top market highly competitive.

References to a fourth-generation Apple TV were discovered in iOS 7 configuration files, while analysts reckon that it will be released in the latter parts of 2014. Despite this, there are no concrete ideas on what the new version of Apple TV might look like: a set-top box, a USB or a whole television itself.

Re/Code reported that that WWDC won't be used to reveal Apple TV or preview any software for it, according to its sources. With the two new operating systems on the way Apple does have a lot on its plate. Perhaps the company is writing up a rain check to give Apple TV its own event?

iWatch

Apple has said nothing about the potential release of its own smartwatch but that hasn't stopped widespread reports. With Microsoft looking into wearables, and with Google announcing its Android Wear, it would be a perfect opportunity for Cupertino to trump its rivals and steal some thunder.

The iWatch is rumoured to be a companion to the incoming Healthbook app, recording biometric data like pulse, calories burned and steps taken that will be stored within the iPhone for analysis.

If Apple was considering the release of an iWatch, it is more likely that it will wait until the public release of iOS 8, which, if Apple follows tradition, won't be available until September 2014.

Retina MacBook Air

Despite Apple updating its Air line-up rumours still persist that a new model could be on the way. A Retina-enabled Air featuring a 12in high-resolution screen could be forthcoming, designed to phase out older models. The 13in MacBook Air will then be replaced by the Retina-enabled 13in MacBook Pro.

Whispers also suggest Apple will drop the trackpad in favour of optical sensors and new touch gestures. The model is also supposed to be feature a fanless processor design.

Connected home software

Sources recently told the Financial Times that Apple is gearing up to enter the smart home market, with plans afoot to launch a software platform that will allow users to control the heating, security and lighting systems in their homes with their iOS devices.

This information is based on a patent application Apple made in November 2013, which suggests the firm is planning to use location-based technology to activate/deactivate lights or security systems whenever someone enters or leaves a property.

With the likes of Google and Samsung already making a big play in this area, we wouldn't be surprised to see some news from Apple at WWDC about this later today.

Deutsche Telekom call centre representatives have been telling customers the iPhone 6's release date is 19 September in the hope they'll stay on with the carrier.

The release date rumours began when a user on German forum apfelpage.de phoned up to cancel their contract and was told to stay because the next-generation iPhone will be arriving on that date.

Athough Apple does sometimes tell its partners when the next iPhone is set to be released so they can make sure they have the necessary promotions in place, it is unlikely networks would tell their call centre staff because the information would be under a strict embargo.

However, the release date could have been an educated guess because Apple does tend to follow a pattern with its iPhone release dates.

The operating system is usually announced at WWDC in June (this takes place on Monday 2 June in 2014), with a dedicated iPhone launch event in September. The first markets to receive new iPhones are the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany Japan, Singapore and the UK.

Some rumours however, have suggested the iPhone 6 will land in August, with a larger phablet released in September.

The iPhone 6's specs are just as much under scrutiny as the release date. It's thought the next-gen iPhone will feature either a 4.7-inch or 5.5-inch screen with a higher resolution Retina display than previous iPhones.

There could, of course, be two new iPhones - one along the iPhone 5C budget lines and another in the same series as the iPhone 5S.

As happens every year, Apple fans are anticipating a brand new design to the device, with a thinner chassis and relocated lock/wake button on the side of the device rather than the top.

Apple's iPhone 6 will be released in August, a month earlier than expected, according to a Taiwanese source.

The new device, sporting a 4.7in screen, will hit the shelves in August. A 5.5 or 5.6in model will follow in September, according to the Economic Daily News, which cited an unidentified supply-chain source.

Eighty million units will be designed prior to the launch event, the source claims. There was no mention of which markets would receive the phones first.

Initial rumours suggested Apple would unveil the new iPhones in September, the month the company typically releases its latest models. If true, the reports indicate that Cupertino seems happy enough with its designs to shorten the schedule.

Other rumours suggests that screen size is set to be a key battleground for Apple. The firm will attempt to combat rival Samsung, with the South Korean company's Galaxy range impressing in that category. It has also been suggested the company is planning to release a 5.5in "phablet" in the near future.

Apple will look to ape the design style of the iPod Nano and the iPhone 5c, making the iPhone 6 available in a number of different colours.

The iPhone 6 might also include new features to allow interoperability with its rumoured iWatch, which is expected to be confirmed by the company in the near future.

Apple is planning to use sapphire crystal glass technology in its next iPhone, after details emerged of equipment it had purchased.

The iPhone maker has struck a deal with GT Technologies which will allow the firms to produce between 100 and 200 million displays at a manufacturing facility in Arizona.

Documents showing the import of materials were published by 9to5Mac and appear to confirm that Apple and GT Advanced will be working together to produce larger displays.

Apple is tipped to increase the screen size of the iPhone to five inches. Switching to sapphire is expected to provide the next iPhone with a number of other advantages. The material is the second hardest substance after diamond and is highly resistant to scratching.

Reports suggest that Apple will also be able to underlay the Sapphire screen with its Touch ID technology, which is currently restricted to the home button.

Apple is expected enhance other key features too; including the camera and storage, which could be upped to 12-megapixels and 128GB, respectively.

• Ive concludes: "Touch ID defines the next step of how you use your iPhone. Making something as important as security so effortless, so simple. We believe that technology is at it's very best, at its most empowering, when it simply disappears."
• Danny Riccio, SVP of hardware design, adds: "All fingerprint information is encrypted and stored inside the secure enclave in our new A7 chip. Here, it is locked away from everything else, accessible only by the Touch ID sensor. It's never available to other software, and never stored on Apple servers or backed up to iCloud."All about the new iPhones Want more detail about the new iPhone 5c and 5s? Check out our information here.
• "This care, this consideration, extends to how we protect all of the important information you carry with you on your iPhone. It's what led us to create Touch ID."
• iPhone 5s video now up on Apple site: "iPhone 5s is our most refined iPhone to date," Ive states. "It is meticulously designed, engineered and crafted. But it's the remarkable innovation inside the iPhone 5s that sets a new precedent. It's not just rampant technology's sake - every single component, every process has been considered and measured to make sure that it's truly useful and that it actually enhances the user's experience."
• "We believe the iPhone is an experience. An experience is defined by hardware and software working harmoniously together. We continue to refine that experience, dramatically blurring the boundaries between the two, making it more powerful, more intuitive and, ultimately, more useful. iPhone 5c is beautifully, unapologetically, plastic...I think it's quite remarkable when something feels familiar and yet it's new at the same time. That's the iPhone 5c. It's the vivid realisation of hardware and software together in one device." Apple has posted an iPhone 5c video on its website, just this minute. "The iPhone 5c is in many ways the distillation of what many people love about the iPhone 5. It's simpler, more essential, yet it's more capable and certainly more colourful," says Jony Ive.
• And we're done. No iPhone 6. Just yet anyway. But some good stuff coming nonetheless.

• Looks like the iPhone 5 has been discontinued (the slide showed the 4S 8GB next to the iPhone 5c and 5s but no sign of the orginal iPhone 5). RIP.
• Pre-orders of the iPhone 5c open up next Friday (the 13th, eek!) and the devices will go on sales in the UK and US on 20th September. Austrailia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan and Singapore users will also benefit from that availability date. And, by the end of the year, the iPhone 5c will be available in 100 countries, supported by more than 270 network carriers.
• There are a range of cases too, in different colours, that will set you back $39.
• All about the money... The new iPhone 5s will cost you $199 for the 16GB, $299 for the 32GB and $399 for the 64GB (all on a two-year US contract).
• And... the sensor will be located in the new home button, which is constructed of four layers (a tactile switch sits behind the Touch ID sensor, with the stainless steel detection ring and then a laser-cut sapphire crystal on the outside). Time for a quick demo.
• It'll have a capacitive sensor; 170 microns thin; 500 ppi resolution; will scan sub-epidermal skin layers and has 360-degree readability.
• Moving onto security. Whoop - Touch ID.
• Now details about the flash. It's adjustable with different colour modes ranging from 'candle flame' to 'outdoor sky' (Wonder if they have a not-summer-in-the-UK-grey?). There will be more than 1,000 unique flash variations. HD capture is pretty nifty (720p at 120 fps).
• There's a host of goodies on offer here: Better aperture (f 2.2) and pixels are now 1.5 microns. Apple says "Bigger pixels = better picture."
• Now the camera. Let's get snap-happy.
• 3G talk time (10 hours); 3G browsing (8 hours); LTE browsing (10 hours); Wi-Fi browsing (10 hours); video playback (10 hours); music playback (40 hours); standby (250 hours).

• Now for some battery talk...
• Now Schiller is talking about the M7 Motion co-processor. It continuously measures motion data; has an accelerometer, gyroscope and compass built-in, which will (according to Apple) enable a new-generation of fitness apps.
• Donald Mustard, co-founder of Chair Entertainment, is now on stage to show the iPhone 5s some love. He reckons it's five times faster than the iPhone 5.
• iPhone 5s also runs OpenGL ES (the standard for embedded, accelerated graphics).
• Chart behind Schiller now shows a CPU performance curve, plotting how the different iPhone generations fare. iPhone 5s is king of the chart, boasting a CPU performance that's 40 times faster. It also boasts a graphics chip that's 56 times faster. (We're not entirely sure from the chart at stage whether that's over the original iPhone or iPhone 5)
• 64-bit apps will be launched for iOS.
• Now let's talk tech! The architecture is desktop-class; with a modern instruction set; 2x general purpose registers; 2x floating-point registers; more than one billion transistors; 102mm (squared) die size.
• It'll have a 64-bit chip (the Apple A7 to be precise). Making it a smartphone world-first, Apple claims.
• Looks like a metal casing and three colours: black/grey, gold and silver. Less funky than the iPhone 5c's colouring, but perhaps better-suited to corporate types.

• Now onto iPhone 5s *in best Ferrero Rocher ad voice: "Apple you are spoiling us!"*
• Not content with that, Apple is also releasing a range of iPhone 5c cases with cut-outs so you can still see the original colour. They'll be $29 a piece.
• It'll be available in a range of hues: Blue, white, pink, yellow and green and the shell will be hard-coated polycarbonate with a steel reinforced interior which will double up as an antenna.
• Specs now. Four inch Retina display; Apple-designed A6 chip; high-capacity battery (phew); 8MP iSight camera; new FaceTime HD camera on the front; More LTE bands than any other smartphone in the world with up to 100 Mbps download; supports 802.11 a/b/g/n; 2.4GHz and 5GHz and Bluetooth 4.0.
• But all good stars must retire from the limelight. Take the stage iPhone 5c. And, instead of lowering the price of the iPhone 5 (as Apple has done before for the previous generation when launching a new one), it's just making the iPhone 5c uber cheap. $99 for the 16GB version and $199 for 32GB on a two-year contract.
• Now it's onto the iPhone. iPhone 5 did really well in its first year. Better than any iPhone before it.
• These apps feed customers' appetite for productivity (iWork) and creativity (iMovie and iPhoto) says Cook who is now standing in front of a giant screen that says 'Free.' If only he started talking about the new iPhone now - maybe they'd be a chance we could claim he was suggesting it was free. A tech title can dream can't it?!

• Then he jumps on to creative apps such as iMovie and iPhoto. Not really business fodder, unless that's your job or you need to kill time. We like these apps nonetheless.
• The big screen presentation behind him states 'Best-selling mobile productivity apps' as Cook talks up the good stuff inside iWork.
• Cook's back on stage now so he can turn our attention to the wonders of iWork.
• iOS 7 will run on the iPhone 4 and later devices, the iPad 2 and later, the iPad mini and the 5th generation iPod Touch.
• Lots of details about iOS 7 and the multitude (200-plus) of new features it will bring. Developers have already got their hands on it and are incredibly excited.
• We knew it. It's out on September 18th. IT Pro's source verified this a while back, following some unconfirmed reports.
• Now time to talk iOS 7. Craig Federighi, who leads Apple's engineering unit, is on stage. He says the OS "is alive." Not too alive, we hope.
• Apple will ship its 700 millionth iOS device next month. That makes it the most popular OS in the world, according to Cook.
• He's - in typical Apple style - going to keep us waiting for what we're all here for (details of the new iPhone) but providing an update on some other things first. First up, the iTunes festival, in London. Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake and Elton John are on the line up. Some 20 million people tried to get tickets.
• Tim Cook, Apple's CEO has taken to the stage. Here we go...
• It's started!
• Apple's event is widely expected to reveal the new iPhone. But will it be an iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s or iPhone 6?Last week, the company sent out invitations to a gathering at its headquarters in Cupertino on Tuesday 10 September, starting at 6pm GMT. That's today and just 40 minutes away. IT Pro will be bringing you all the news as it happens. So stay tuned to this live blog for updates. This article was originally published on 4/9/13 at 11.37 and updated and turned into a live blog article on 10/9/13 to reflect the Apple announcements as they happened.

We've all got opinions, and the IT Pro community certainly isn't shy about sharing them. From ranting about the proposed internet porn filters and the botched Outlook.com switchover, to educating fellow readers with quotes from Roman Emperors, there's never a dull moment.

Below we take a look at some of the news stories and features that have got readers riled this week.

Web porn wig out

The most talked about story of the week was undoubtedly David Cameron's plans to introduce default porn filters to UK homes, as part of a Government-led online pornography clampdown.

The filters will be automatically switched on to prevent users from accessing adult content online, unless they contact their ISP to opt-out of the scheme.

The initiative has been universally panned by IT Pro's readers, with some claiming the plans could pave the way for widespread censorship of the UK's web space.

"This is pure censorship, the kind of thing that we associate with China," wailed Jimbo.

While, Mobasa69 said there are already plenty of online systems in place to trap those with a penchant for the worst the internet has to offer.

"This policy put forward by Cameron isn't about porn control, it's about total control over the internet, so his elite masters can control the alternative media sites that show them up for what they truly are," they added.

Others said the proposals highlight a lack of understanding within Government of how the internet works, with several readers pointing out that a lot of the material it is trying to curtail access to is rarely shared on the open web.

"Are David Cameron, and his Porn-Tsar Claire 'Mary Whitehouse' Perry, completely out of touch with reality and how technology works," asked IT Pro fan UK Taxpayer.

The same commentator also questioned Apple's (rumoured) decision to launch a new budget version of the iPhone, when the aged iPhone 3GS would fit the bill quite nicely, thank you.

"The iPhone 3GS still suffices as a perfectly satisfactory cheap iPhone," they pointed out.

"Unfortunately, due to IOS 7 and a lack of support for this device, it is now approaching obsolescence."

Microsoft movers and shakers

IT Pro tech editor Khidr Suleman wrote a thought provoking column this week on what has undoubtedly been a turbulent month for software giant Microsoft.

In it he questioned whether the firm's CEO Steve Ballmer has what it takes to help the firm negotiate its way through the post-PC era.

The article was so thought provoking, in fact, it prompted one learned reader (GrahamMills) to start quoting the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, while discussing Microsoft's recent senior management shuffle.

"We trained very hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form into teams we would be reorganised. I was to learn in this life that we tend to meet any situation by reorganisng," he wrote.

"And a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralisation." Deep.

Outlook outrage

Aside from that, the site was deluged with another wave of comments from former Microsoft Hotmail users, many of whom still seem to be struggling with the new-look Outlook.com service.

This time users have flagged issues when trying to print emails, as well as myriad of other account access problems, with several readers complaining about being unable to read old emails.

"I have lost two accounts...All my emails lost and they are important. Is there any reprieve so we can get the email address [re]stored from the 'closed' account? It is disgusting [and I]think I may leave Outlook, and Hotmail," fumed Whoppet.

"F*****g Microsoft. Because of their security obsession I can't access my email account. Idiots !!! I'm leaving f*****g Hotmail," added Lukamo, whose rant tested the very limits of the IT Pro swear filter.

BlackBerry tablet talk

BlackBerry chief Thorsten Hein's recent prediction that the tablet form factor will be obsolete in five year's time continues to perplex the IT Pro universe, with one reader pondering exactly what the smartphone maker's CEO expects to replace it?

"The evidence suggests the mass migration away from laptops by many (especially the casual consumer) to tablets coupled with intuitive easy to use OS and a huge software base," said Privet Romashski.

"If tablets are to be replaced one has to ask, with what?" Well, what indeed!

Apple has started testing a new iPhone and the next version of its iOS software, tech site The Next Web has reported.

The company's shares rose as much as 4.3 per cent but eased a little to trade up 3 per cent at $546.11 by mid-day on the Nasdaq.

Application developers have found in their app usage logs references to a new iPhone identifier, iPhone 6.1, running iOS 7 operating system, the website reported.

Although OS and device data can be faked, the unique IP footprint suggests this isn't.

Apple's iPhone 5 bears the identifiers "iPhone 5.1" and "iPhone 5.2" and is powered by the iOS 6 operating system.

Developer logs show that the app requests originate from an internet address on Apple's Cupertino campus, suggesting that Apple engineers are testing compatibility for some of the popular apps, the website said.

"Although OS and device data can be faked, the unique IP footprint leading back to Apple's Cupertino campus leads us to believe this is not one of those attempts," the website said.

Raymond James analyst Tavis McCourt, however, expects the next version of the iconic smartphone to be called iPhone 5S and not iPhone 6.

Apple typically tags the interim version of its phones with an "S" before moving on to a new version. iPhone 3GS followed iPhone 3G and the iPhone 4S followed iPhone 4.

McCourt also said he wouldn't be surprised if Apple looked at an earlier launch because of the stress on its supply chain caused by late-year launches.

Apple launched iPhone 5 in September and it has been reported that the new iPhone will be released in the middle of 2013.

Techradar.com reported last month that Apple could unveil the next version of its iPhone as early as the spring of 2013.