PSMonitor 1.6 is out! It now has iOS 7 look and feel. There are also some minor enhancements and minor bug fixes. Do check it out!
I wanted to unlock the iPhone 4S so that I can be more flexible in carrier selection. My first, and preferred, option was for the carrier to unlock it. AT&T, for example, does that for out-of-contract phones. The IMEI of the phone is actually officially registered with Apple as unlocked essentially making it factory unlocked. Unfortunately, the local carriers do not unlock phones whether it is still in-contract or out of it.
My next option was unlocking using software. This means installing 3rd party tools that Apple does not approve of. Thus jailbreaking is required. Unfortunately, the phone is already on the latest iOS version and as of this writing, there is no jailbreak available. Nor is downgrading to an older iOS version possible unless I have SHSH blobs which I don’t.
My last option is an interposer SIM. It is essentially a pseudo-SIM that interposes itself between the new SIM and the phone. It’s a marvel of miniaturization. They basically fit in the new SIM, an adapter, and a microprocessor within a SIM tray. Once inserted, you simply “program” the interposer SIM to emulate the old SIM. You actually just input the IMSI of the carrier.
The best-known interposer SIM is the Gevey. I actually wasn’t able to get a Gevey, but instead was given an X-SIM. But it works the same way. And yes, it does work!
I’ve said that putting the gorgeous iPhone inside a case generally fuglifies it. But there are exceptions such as the Sena UltraSlim Leather Pouch that I used for the iPhone 4/4S. And now there’s the Apple iPhone 5s Case.
Probably one of the things that Apple learned from the antennagate controversy is that bumpers and casings are good business. So along with the recent iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s, they released corresponding casings. The iPhone 5c case looks like Crocs and won’t be mentioned again. Ever.
The iPhone 5s case is a full back and side coverage case made of aniline leather reinforced with plastic. The inner side of the back is lined with a soft velvety material to protect the glass and aluminum back of the phone from scratches. That’s three layers but the overall casing is still very slim. The power and volume buttons are covered but remain easy to use. There are precision-cut(!) cutouts and holes for the Lightning port, silent switch, headphone jack, camera, and speakers. The holes for the speakers are especially neat.
The case comes in several conservative (black, brown, tan) and trendy (blue, red, yellow) colors. Supposedly the aniline dyeing process infuses the color deep into the leather and not just on the surface. This means that minor scuffs might not be very visible. Unfortunately, aniline leather is rather fragile and in this case, no pun intended, rather thin. This case is definitely more stylish than protective. But I believe that’s the intent. A premium case for a premium phone. It is a perfect match for the iPhone 5s.
I believe the iPhone 5s is a good phone. The iPhone 5c? Ummm let’s just say the iPhone 5s provides the better value and that’s where Apple’s emphasis is on. The mid-tier and low/free-tier phones are there only to provide coverage. But here are the numbers as to why I think Apple came out with the iPhone 5c.
Below is the pricing before the iPhone 5s arrived, the pricing if Apple had’t released the iPhone 5c, and the current pricing.
| Subsidized Selling Price | Unsubsidized Selling Price | iSuppli Est. Cost | Gross Margin | Gross Margin % | Gross Margin % Change | |
| IPhone 5 64GB | 399 | 849 | 238 | 611 | 71.97% | |
| IPhone 5 32GB | 299 | 749 | 217 | 532 | 71.03% | |
| IPhone 5 16GB | 199 | 649 | 207 | 442 | 68.10% | |
| iPhone 4S 16GB | 99 | 549 | 196 | 353 | 64.30% | |
| IPhone 4 8GB | FREE | |||||
| iPhone 5S 64GB | 399 | 849 | 218.3 | 630.7 | 74.29% | 2.32% |
| IPhone 5S 32GB | 299 | 749 | 208.1 | 540.9 | 72.22% | 1.19% |
| IPhone 5S 16GB | 199 | 649 | 198.7 | 450.3 | 69.38% | 1.28% |
| IPhone 5 16GB | 99 | 549 | 207 | 342 | 62.30% | -2.00% |
| iPhone 4S 8GB | FREE | |||||
| iPhone 5S 64GB | 399 | 849 | 218.3 | 630.7 | 74.29% | 2.32% |
| IPhone 5S 32GB | 299 | 749 | 208.1 | 540.9 | 72.22% | 1.19% |
| IPhone 5S 16GB | 199 | 649 | 198.7 | 450.3 | 69.38% | 1.28% |
| iPhone 5C 32GB | 199 | 649 | 182.85 | 466.15 | 71.83% | |
| iPhone 5C 16GB | 99 | 549 | 173.45 | 375.55 | 68.41% | 4.11% |
| iPhone 4S 8GB | FREE |
If Apple hadn’t released the iPhone 5c, they would have taken a 2% reduction in the gross margin of their mid-tier phone. But instead with the 16GB iPhone 5c they were able to pull off a 4.11% increase. Or 6.11% if compared against the alternate scenario. I don’t know about you, but I think 4% is pretty good! Notice that they were also able get modest increases in their top-tier phone gross margins.
This increase is mainly due to savings in the casing. That’s why the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5 are practically the same except for the casing. Apple bumped down their previous top-tier phone as they normally do but this time changed the casing. Plus, given the similarities between the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 casings, there are production line benefits for the top-tier phone.
People were disappointed by the price of the iPhone 5c. It certainly wasn’t cheaper for them (or me). But it certainly was cheaper for Apple. To manufacture.
Apple has released iOS 7 Gold Master (GM), right after the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c launch. The GM is already the final version for release. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see any more outward changes. Unfortunately because I was still hoping for changes to those fugly icons. But the good news is that iOS 7 is good to go!