Bloomberg reported Tuesday that Apple's suppliers have now begun manufacturing the next iPad Air and iPad mini. Citing anonymous sources "with knowledge of the matter," the report says that the iPad Air could be announced as early as September, while the mini is expected to be available by the end of the year. In addition, Bloomberg says the new iPads will have an anti-reflection coating on the screen to make it easier to see in bright light. However, they also say that production problems with the coating could restrict manufacturing.

It will be interesting to see if sales of the iPad pick up when the new models are announced. In the past two quarters, Apple has had year-over-year declines in iPad sales. New features such as Apple ID, an A8 processor, and the anti-reflection coating could help boost sales. But more likely, Apple's recent partnership with IBM will be a big factor in increased sales, as the corporate market begins adopting the iPad on a much broader scale. The two companies are collaborating on over 100 software programs specifically tailored for the enterprise. In addition, IBM is optimizing their cloud services for iOS as well as creating packaged services for activating and managing devices. There will also be specific AppleCare offerings for the enterprise.

In advance of the new iPads, Apple has begun new marketing campaigns for the device, including two new videos in its "Your Verse" series. In one of the ads, Apple features two Chinese musicians who use the iPad to compose new tracks and to create rhythms during live performances. The other ad features a resident of Detroit who uses an iPad in his efforts to promote the city, employing it to manage every facet of an organization he founded.

I can't wait until they come out with the new iPads. I'm more than ready to replace my aging iPad mini, but will likely hold onto my iPad Air for another year.

Did you know you can use your iPhone as a hotspot for your iPad? A hotspot offers Internet access over a wireless network. You can find hotspots in a variety of locations, from your local coffee shop to an airport.

I was recently sitting in an airport for several hours waiting for a connecting flight. I decided to pass the time by catching up on some TV shows with my Netflix app on my iPad. I connected to the airport's Wi-Fi network and proceeded to watch my show (right now I'm hooked on Damages). It worked for awhile, but as the airport filled with people, my connection slowed and the ability to find out which lawyer is good, which one is bad, and who killed whom was lost. Unfortunately, slow Internet is pretty common with crowded public Wi-Fi networks.

You can avoid sluggish networks with an additional charge on your cellular bill and these easy steps:

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings>Cellular>Personal Hotspot. Toggle Personal Hotspot On.

2. Next, go to the Settings menu on your iPad, tap Wi-Fi and then find your iPhone's name as an available Wi-Fi network.

3. Tap on your phone's name, then enter the password listed on you iPhone in your iPad's Wi-Fi Password field.

4. Voila! Now your phone is tethered and you have Internet access on your iPad.

5. When you're finished using the Internet, don't forget to turn the Personal Hotspot off on your iPhone to avoid extra data charges.

Check with your cellular provider to add the hotspot feature to your phone. Charges for this usually start at around $20 per month.

Another option is to buy an iPad already set-up with the cellular feature. This will cost you an extra $130 for that model, plus the monthly charge from a cellular data service provider.

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The iPhone 6 is said to now be undergoing "product validation testing," meaning that Apple is doing test production runs to see how successfully the new phone can be manufactured. According to the rumor, the yield rate is at 90%, which is good enough for Apple to begin mass production. This latest rumor, reported by AppleInsider, comes from a Chinese social media site based on sources working at Apple manufacturer Foxconn. If this is true, it strongly suggests that everything is on track for the rumored September 9 announcement. The report didn't specify whether both the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch phone are undergoing product validation testing, and rumors continue to suggest that the larger phone may come out later. Today's rumor is credible, given all the photos of alleged iPhone 6 parts that have been appearing online. 

September 9 is less than a month away, and it seems like we already know just about everything there is to know about the new iPhone. Some of the details are fuzzy, such as what material will be used in the display to make it harder. It will be fun to learn whether the phone will in fact have a protruding camera lens, which will enable it to be even thinner than before. We don't really know much about the camera, other than the obvious: that it will be improved. Some rumors have suggested it will have optical image stabilization, while other reports have said this isn't true. We don't know how much it will cost. Some reports said Apple was wanting to bump up the price by $100 but the carriers were resisting. The current feeling is that if indeed it is more expensive, it will only be a small increase. 

One big question is whether the iPhone 6 will have a near field communication chip (NFC), the use of which is typically for mobile transactions. A number of rumors have said it will have this chip, but the same thing was rumored before previous iPhones, and turned out not to be true. Apple has instead focused on iBeacon, which is increasingly being adopted and which is based on Bluetooth. It wouldn't make sense for Apple to adopt NFC.

The biggest question mark, however, is the 5.5-inch iPhone that's expected. When will it be announced? Will it essentially be the same phone but larger? Will it be branded as an iPhone? MacDailyNews makes some fascinating points regarding the launch of this phone, and the inherent problems in the various scenarios. If Apple just announces the 4.7-inch phone, and then a couple months later says, "Surprise, here's yet another phone," some people will be angry. They may have preferred the 5.5-inch phone but bought the 4.7-inch phone not knowing the larger phone was coming. On the other hand, if Apple announces the 5.5-inch phone and says it's coming later, that will impact the sales of the 4.7-inch phone and make for a weaker launch than would otherwise be expected. A third scenario would be that Apple announces both phones on September 9 but prices the 5.5-inch phone so much higher that it won't have much impact on the sales of the 4.7-inch phone. That last scenario seems the most likely.

Whatever happens, it's a big step for Apple. One of the major reasons for their phenomenal success is the way they've always kept their product line so tightly focused. It could well be that this fall consumers will have a choice between three different sizes of iPhones: 4, 4.7, and 5.5 inches. Would Steve Jobs have approved?

Apple is honoring the late Robin Williams with a short tribute on their website and a special section of the iTunes Store featuring his many movies and standup routines. The tribute reads, "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Robin Williams. He inspired us through his passion, his generosity, and the gift of laughter. He will be greatly missed." Apple CEO Tim Cook also tweeted, "Heartbroken by the news of Robin Williams' passing. He was an incomparable talent and a great human being. Rest in peace." The iTunes Store gives a categorized listing of his movies (Essentials, Comedy, Drama, More to Explore) as well as an additional tribute:

No one made us laugh like Robin Williams. His mile-a-minute comic energy — a dizzying stream of jokes, impressions, and hyper-physicality — left us exhausted from the fun of it, but always wanting more. Williams could make the most dramatic moments somehow hilarious, and the silliest moments deeply meaningful. His characters embodies this talent, from kooky writer T.S. Garp in the World According to Garp to a father masquerading as a dubious English nanny to stay near his children in Mrs. Doubtfire, to a psychotherapist cutting through a troubled young janitor’s defenses in Good Will Hunting. An Oscar, an Emmy, and a Grammy winner, Williams was also a generous philanthropist who performed with the USO for troops stationed overseas, and worked passionately with a variety of organizations such as Comic Relief and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

 

Apple didn't introduce an iWatch or fitness band at their Worldwide Developers Conference, but they introduced technology to make it easier for others to do so.  HealthKit is a framework for developers and gadget makers that can help them integrate fitness and wearable gear with iOS.  And Apple isn't taking a backseat to see what happens.  They are actively recruiting hospitals and healthcare firms to make the next generation of health products.

According to Reuters, Apple is working with such healthcare luminaries as the Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Mount Sinai Hospital, and Allscripts.  All of these institutions have an interest in automating recording of blood pressure, pulse, and other diagnostics and sharing them electronically (within HIPAA regulations, of course!) These companies are in addition to others announced at WWDC, like the Mayo Clinic and Epic.  Of course Nike has been working with Apple on their running sensor, and even abandoned their wearable wristband, presumably to help make an Apple version that replaces it.  

Need to kill some time while waiting for a friend, sizzle up some competition within the gang, or just giddy to sharpen your rustic mind? Word Hack is a new iPhone word game that could easily fill your boredom and get your intellectual juices flowing with its simple yet challenging game mechanics.

Word Hack, with its clever spin on your childhood games Hangman and Wheel of Fortune, will test you in terms of speed and accuracy as you need to build the mystery words within a specified time.

Upon opening the app, you will be greeted by a puzzle board with cool colors. The puzzle is pre-filled with a few letters for you to solve, along with the category.

Simply drag the letters to their matching colors on the puzzle board and gain points for accuracy and speed. You can then show your scores off via Facebook and Twitter.

Word Hack is simple, fun, and challenging, and could very well be your next addiction. Check it out and discover a new way to play your classic games!  

Word Hack is free and can be downloaded in the App Store.

The only thing more annoying then getting a song stuck in your head is not being able to remember which song it is you've been humming all day. If you've ever wanted go back and put a name to a song or musician, just check your iTunes Radio listening history.

In Music, go to iTunes Radio and tap on History in the upper left corner. There you will be able to see a list of all the songs you've heard recently under the Played tab and all the music you've added to your Wish List in the other tab.

While you're there you can also tap Clear if you want to erase all evidence of your penchant for '80s dance music.

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Carriers and mobile retailers have created their own dilemma by signing up users for two year contracts. This means that retailers won't get another shot at their next iPhone for 23 months or more. Given the rapid pace of innovation, many users are either left out or finding creative ways to upgrade. Personally, I leverage our Family Plan so I can get the latest iPhone each year and hand down my one year old model to a family member.

AT&T has their "Next" plan which allows customers to basically pay over time for the privilege of upgrading frequently. I just received an email from Radio Shack encouraging me to take advantage of that plan, and upgrade now.  Indeed, they are promoting a Samsung Android phone, in the email, feeding off the iPhone user base who has been waiting for a larger screen.

Given how close we are to the next iPhone, with at least a 4.7-inch screen, I'm not taking the bait, but it might be a good way for some users to get their next phone, whichever one they want!

Top 3 App Deals of the Week

As new iOS apps flood the App Store every day — recently topping 900,000 — we know it’s tough to tell which ones are worth their salt. But thanks to our Weekly Scoop, you can have the best for free! Here you’ll find a weekly roundup of the coolest free or discounted apps for a limited-time only. Each week features the best and brightest from websites like Free App Report, AppsGoneFree, AppieDay, AppShopper and more.

Hurry! Get 'em while they’re hot!

1)Sharknado: The Video Game (FREE)

Everyone is talking about the outrageous movie series, so it's only fitting that there's a game to go with it!  This is the only official Sharknado game out there and it's being offered to you for nada, nothing, zip. Just be aware that this game is not supported on iPad 2, iPhone 4 and iPod Touch 4th Gen.  Everyone else, BEWARE THE DEADLY SHARKNADO!

2)Amy's Cookies 2(FREE)

In this children's game kids will love choosing ingredients and mixing and matching flavors. They usually come running to show adults their latest creations, whether it's a gross combination of unlikely ingredients or a delectable cookie masterpiece. With 205 dough flavors, 210 ingredients, 205 cookie shapes, and 210 toppings, the possibilities are endless! This game is bound to keep your kids occupied for a while.

3)GoodReader 4 ($2.99 from $6.99)

Offered for a limited time only at a nearly 60% discount, this is one back to school special you just can't pass up. It's the next generation of the original GoodReader with some robust new features like PDF Page Management, PDF Page slider, icon view for file browser, and so much more!  

On Wednesday, AT&T stores began a limited-time offer of a $200 discount on iPads if you buy an iPhone 5s or 5c on their installment plan and sign up for a two-year data contract for the iPad. Of course, you'll want to take into account that the iPhone 6 is expected to be announced next month. If you really want an iPad and will be happy with a current iPhone, then it seems like a good deal. AT&T is likely offering this deal to clear out inventory and to increase the number of iPad users subscribing to their data services. Note that this only applies to a purchase of a cellular data iPad, which costs an additional $130 over the WiFi model. If you purchase the original iPad mini, the discount is even better: $230. CNET has a helpful article breaking down your monthly costs. 

Rules!$1.99

Rules is an impossibly cute and very well-designed puzzle game reminiscent of Popcap's Peggle, right down to the unicorn and the weirdly addictive difficulty curve.

This game is the latest release from Germany-based Coding Monkeys (who were kind enough to provide a copy for review). Rules consists of a simple 4x4 grid of tiles numbered from 1 to 10. Each numbered tile has a creature on it, and all the creatures are colored. Rules' title is also its basic instruction; it's similar to the old kids game Simon, in that you are asked to follow a pattern which gets more and more complicated as you play, and which you must remember in reverse order as you go along. You're given a time limit on each level, and your score increases if you complete it without any mistakes or within five seconds. If you run out of time, you need to start over again from the very beginning.

For a game with such a simple concept, Rules escalates quickly. “Tap numbers in descending order,” is the first level; “Okay,” you think, and begin tapping away. “Tap the green tiles,” it asks next; “That's easy,” you respond. Several minutes later, you're eight levels in, and trying to remember if you need to tap mustaches or monsters first—or is it whales before you tap phones? Robots before adjacent monsters? As I told my partner: “Rules is the first game that's made me want to throw my phone out of my second-story window. But in a good way.”

Rules is one of my favorite types of iOS games: easy to learn, hard to master, simple enough to play in short bursts, and with a learning curve that rewards continued play but keeps things interesting. The rules are always in the same order, but the tiles are randomized, so you start to memorize the levels but always need to keep your eyes and fingers active. While I could barely recall five levels on the first day I played, several days later I can do the first ten of them without missing a beat, but still get totally flustered as they get tougher further on (I've only made it to level 27).

Anyone who played Simon as a kid can tell you why the game was so reviled: after a little while, it was simply impossible to remember every single step taken so far. The human brain can only hold so many things in working memory at once, and Rules stretches you right to that limit—but, happily, no further. Since a tile can be tapped because of its color, number, or image, you'll find yourself confusing the order to “tap the highest number” with the order to “tap telephones”, because both can apply to the number 9 tile. Just when you're about to lose your damn mind—every ten levels—the game gives you a breather page and starts you off with a new set of ten rules. It's perfect for brushing right up against frustration without taking the fun away.

Rules will frustrate some players, because it does ramp up very quickly, and it's not quite perfect. One quirk of the system is the way in which it calculates your time allotment; it's something I didn't notice until I realized I only had eleven seconds to complete the seventeenth level. The time you have left upon completion of a level is carried over to the next one, with a few bonus points added on depending on your speed: you get 10 seconds added if you finished with 0-4 seconds on the clock; 9 bonus if you finished with 5-9 seconds left; 8 bonus added if you finished in the 10-14 range, and so on. The way the game tells you about this, however, is a little different. Say you start with 20 seconds and finish the level with 15 on the clock; you get seven bonus seconds added for the next round, for a total of 22, and the game shows you this by flashing a “+2” on the score screen underneath the timer. If things got down to the wire and you only had 5 seconds left, the bonus nine seconds you're given add up to 14 for the next level—and you're shown “-6”, subtracted from the total you started off with. The math works out just fine, but it's not presented in a very clear way.

In my initial playthrough, I had been aiming for a flawless score boost in most levels, as the tutorial simply states that you get a bonus for that; but since you're not penalized for incorrect taps, it's worth it to be as speedy as possible and try to bump up your time total in the earlier levels so that you aren't left with an impossibly short amount of time when things get tricky later on. This is my only complaint about Rules, and it's easily fixed by adding one or two extra screens during the tutorial clarifying that your speed will determine your time allotment for the next level. It'd be nice if a flawless round rewarded you with a little more time as well, which would keep things balanced for those levels where you end up being meticulous but not particularly speedy. Other than that, though, Rules is a charming, addictive, well-designed puzzle game that rewards repeated play and keeps things interesting without ever becoming impossible.

Pros:

• very well designed, both visually and mechanically

• Pleasing and unobtrusive music and sound effects

• options for color-blind individuals

• easy to learn, hard to master, but never impossible

• no in-app purchases, ads, or payment gates

Cons:

• Time calculation is somewhat confusing in this current version

• It would be nice if a flawless level awarded a few extra seconds as bonus, to balance the goals somewhat

Rating: 4.5/5

It's now less than a month until the rumored September 9 announcement of the iPhone 6, and photos of parts have appeared online. Notably, the Taiwanese blog AppleClub has posted photos of the front screen assembly. We had already seen photos and videos of the front glass, but this is the first time photos have been posted of the glass mounted in its casing. The photos show both the outside and inside of this front assembly. There's no way to tell the exact size, but it's clearly larger than the iPhone 5s, and likely has the rumored 4.7-inch display.

In addition, the French website Nohwereelse has published photos of a bunch of iPhone 6 parts, though AppleInsider suspects some of the parts could be for the forthcoming iPod touch. Among them is a metal Apple logo, which fits with the rumor that the iPhone 6 will have an embedded Liquidmetal logo. Another part is an external camera ring, fitting with the rumor that the iPhone 6 could have a protruding camera lens. 

In addition, Techradar has posted photos of an alleged iPhone 6 along with its retail packaging. However, the site thinks the phone in the photo may be a Chinese clone. Already phones are available that look just like the iPhone 6 is expected to look, and that run a version of Android that is skinned to look like iOS. Here's one such video.

This is the official announcement of the iPhone Life Biweekly Giveaway! Be sure to enter the giveaway at iPhoneLife.com/giveaways to win prizes, which we'll announce August 25th! We are raffling off tons of great accessories for FREE.

Here's how it works: Every other Friday we announce the prizes we're giving away through iphonelife.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. To enter the giveaway, go to iPhoneLife.com/giveaways and tell your friends to enter too! On the following Monday morning, we will randomly select the winners. If you win an app, we will email you the promo code to redeem the app for free. If you win an accessory, send us your address and we will mail it to you.

This weeks featured items are:

1. PerfectFit iPhone 5 Screen Protector: Retail Price $19.95

This precision pre-cut ScreenShield applies directly to your device, providing the best, most durable protection you will find that covers the maximum amount of the device surface. Transparent and ultra thin, this screen shield provides unbeatable device scratch protection.

2. Speck HandyShell iPad Mini Case: Retail Price $49.95

Protect your iPad mini and enjoy it in ways you never imagined. This HandyShell iPad mini case features a sturdy flip-out handle that you can adjust for multiple standing, holding, and hanging angles, giving you the freedom to use your iPad mini around the house, at the office, or on the go.

3. Bandshell iP5 iPhone 5/5s Case: Retail Price $29.99

The Bandshell case is ultra-slim and durable, and improves your iPhone listening and viewing experience. This dual-purpose case amplifies the volume and sound quality of your music, videos, podcasts, movies, and programs without the need for extra speakers or cords. The Bandshell kickstand allows the phone to stand up on its side, making it easier to watch movies and videos without having to hold the phone or lean it against something. Enjoy using your smart phone to listen to music, watch videos, host a conference call, or make a live recording. 

Questions or comments? Email Brian@iphonelife.com. Good luck and remember to visit iphonelife.com/giveaways to enter! Also check out our other contests at iphonelife.com/contests. The next contest drawing is August 25!

It may be hard to believe, but Spike Lee's socially eloquent movie about race and gender relations in New york City is 25 years old. To celebrate and pay respect to this groundbreaking and critically acclaimed movie, Apple's subsidiary, Beats Inc. has produced a 22-minute tribute video, starring Spike Lee himself, along with actors and actresses from the original movie, including stars Danny Aiello and Rosie Perez. 

Director Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing addressed culturally charged issues that most black Americans have dealt with, in a language that his demographic could relate to. Spike Lee delivered a movie that moviegoers around the country could relate to, regardless of their race or where they were from. The movie dealt with issues that are ironically relevant even today, and for Apple's own company, Beats Inc., to honor this radical film is yet another example of Apple's increasingly public political and social running commentary.

If you can't see the embedded Beats video, click HERE.

Along with a good deal of reminiscing about the old days when Do The Right Thing was filmed, the short Beats documentary also features cameos by Erykah Badu, Dave Chappelle, and the Mighty Mos Def. The Beats video takes us back in time to the days when Do The Right Thing was created, but it also takes us to the present day, to a massive rally on the streets of Brooklyn in commemoration of Do The Right Thing. If the fact that Apple in any way, shape, or form has backed and supported a video honoring this controversial film has you amazed, hold on to your seats because the new video ends with none other than rap legends (and close personal friends of Apple executive, Dr. Dre) Public Enemy, performing their counter culture hit "Fight The Power". Apparently Apple is quite open to pushing the boundries of what we consider normal, and acceptable operating procedure (and we're not just talking about Tim Cook calling out Dr. Dre for the Ice Bucket challenge) as one of the world's most powerful and influential companies, even if they use the auspices of their newly acquired headphone company to do so.

What do you think of Apple's company, Beats Inc., paying tribute to such a hot-topic film as Do The Right Thing? Let us know your thoughts and feelings on the matter in the comments section below.

One of the biggest question marks surrounding the iPhone 6 is whether it will use a sapphire crystal display or a sapphire laminate. Thursday's Wall Street Journal reported that the material isn't quite ready and that if it's used, it will only be in high-end versions of both the 4.7- and 5.5-inch phones. Citing sources "familiar with the matter," the Journal says that it simply depends on whether enough sapphire can be manufactured. According to the report, sapphire displays for the iPhone 6 and the expected smartwatch will begin rolling off production lines this month at the new plant in Arizona that Apple has invested in. The article says that the plant won't be fully operational until next year. And amazingly, once it's at full capacity it will produce twice as much sapphire crystal as the the total amount produced by the current top 100 manufacturers combined. Apple certainly has plans for this material. But when? And how much will it cost the consumer?

The Journal says that a sapphire display would cost Apple $16 compared to $3 for Gorilla Glass. On the other hand, if the material is so hard that it results in less cracking and breaking, Apple would save money on warranty costs. But estimates suggest that the warranty savings wouldn't completely make up for the extra expense. Apple may simply choose to absorb the extra cost, which would reduce profit margins, but would give the phones a feature that people would love. And that Apple could market heavily.

Apple has always been focused on the experience of the user, and has always wanted to make devices that people love. The Journal says that an estimated 11% of iPhone displays are cracked or broken, and it's hard to love a broken device. Apple is probably the only smartphone maker that can afford to make this move. It's doubtful that any other manufacturer would be willing to make the $700 million investment that Apple is. 

Sapphire has some downsides. It's heavier. And according to the maker of Gorilla Glass, their displays do better than sapphire in drop tests and are less reflective in sunlight. I'm guessing that Apple has these things figured out. Perhaps they're using a sapphire laminate and an anti-glare coating. The laminate would make the display harder but not necessarily heavier. And wouldn't be as expensive as a pure sapphire display.

Of course, with Apple going all-in for sapphire, the costs will inevitably come down, given the huge volume that Apple will producing.

You have to hand it to Apple for always moving ahead, pushing into new technologies, and focusing on making devices their customers will love.

The utility I use the most on my iPhone is the calculator. I use it often to reconcile my checkbook, calculate discounts in the store, and more. but when I use the iPhone's calculator to add up a list of numbers, it doesn't offer a record of what I input, so I don't know if I made an error tapping numbers in.

Enter Siri..... I can activate her and say "85 plus 25.5 plus 941.12 plus 6 plus 168.96," and she will go to Wolfram Alpha for the answer. The bonus is Siri shows a record of what l said, so I can check it. And if I made a mistake, all I do is press tap to edit (under the formula) and correct it and it calculates again. I don't have to do it all over again like I would in Calculator. Very slick!

[Updated to add: Unfortunately, this tip will only work in English, since Wolfram Alpha is not capable of understanding any other languages yet.]

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Top image credit: Sergey Nivens/Shutterstock.com

There is a good article over at CNET on how an iPhone 5s from Verizon could work on AT&T. I won't go into the details here, but suffice it to say, as carriers standardize on LTE, it is possible to make a phone that works on AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, and other carriers. Indeed customers already could migrate between AT&T and T-Mobile, which use GSM SIM cards. In fact, I use an old AT&T iPhone on Consumer Cellular's service. Many of the pre-paid providers like Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, and Straight Talk leverage one of the major carrier's networks.

So, it could be possible, and perhaps even easy for Apple to make a single iPhone that supports any carrier. Given the ridiculous number of configurations the iPhone has, it would be so much easier to stock a single phone, with a few color and memory choices. Apple could see the light and make 32 GB standard, and cut down on memory configurations as well. I don't think they'll ever offer expandable microSD card memory, as Android phones do, but that would be another way to ship a single configuration.

When the iPhone 5s launched, even Sherlock Holmes would have had trouble finding the iPhone 5s in the color he wanted, with the memory he wanted, for the carrier he needed! That's why sites like Apple-Tracker popped up. It has since been taken down by Apple, unfortunately. I wanted a 32 B model but ended up getting a 64 GB iPhone 5s, because I wanted gold AT&T and that was all I could find. Perhaps that's in Apple's interest, but it does seem like a problem waiting to be solved.

Excitement is building toward September 9, when Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 6. Rumors continue to swirl in the blogosphere regarding details of the new device. According to a post on AppleInsider, a newly leaked document suggests the A8 chip will have 1 GB of RAM, the size that Apple has been using since 2012 and that's smaller than competing Android phones. The post explains the tradeoff: more RAM would be nice but it also reduces battery life. The downside of less RAM is that iOS closes background tasks and refreshes tabs in Safari. For its part, Apple never divulges how much RAM a device has. [Update: blogs are now saying that the leaked document that suggested 1GB was misinterpreted and actually was referring to a component other than the A8 processor.]

An earlier rumor said that the 4.7-inch iPhone would have a battery rated at 1,810mAh (compared to 1,440 for the iPhone 5s), and now more leaked photos posted by the French website Nowherelese.com and reported by AppleInsider appears to confirm that. As with RAM, Apple's battery size for the phone is significantly smaller than competing smartphones, with the Samsung Galaxy S5 having a 2,800mAh battery. Apple can apparently get by with a smaller battery because of the 1 GB of RAM and because the new A8 processor will reportedly be much more efficient. Of course, a smaller battery helps to contribute to the phone's being thin and light.

Speaking of battery size, Geeky Gadgets has posted leaked photos suggesting the anticipated 5.5-inch iPhone will have a 2,915mAh battery. The post claims to also have photos of the 5.5-inch phone (which accompanies this post and is pictured on the right) and parts for that phone, but other blogs say the phone and parts pictured other than the larger battery are questionable, since they appear identical to the leaked photos related to the 4.7-inch phone. Earlier rumors had suggested the 5.5-inch phone would have a 2,500mAh battery.

One of the biggest questions surrounding the new phones is whether Apple will begin incorporating sapphire crystal in the display. The rumors have been all over the place. According to a market analyst at JP Morgan, as reported by AppleInsider, it's unlikely that Apple will use sapphire in their iPhone displays this year. He says the costs are simply too high — 10 times more than Gorilla Glass — and that sapphire simply isn't ready for volume manufacturing. He acknowledged that Apple might possibly use sapphire in a high-end, more expensive version of the phone, but feels that's unlikely to happen this year.

We hear about them all the time these days, ruggedized products that claim to meet or exceed Military Standards, or that refer to IP levels. But what do these designations really mean, and how can they help us make informed decisions when it comes to buying tech accessories or choosing protective gear for our devices?

The origins of the Military Standard goes back to the World War II era, when the Army and Air Force released their first specifications detailing an approved formal methodology for putting various equipment to the test, under simulated environmental conditions. Specifically, MIL-STD is a document that establishes uniform technical and engineering standards for various equipment, and includes interface standards, manufacturing process standards, design criteria standards, and test method standards.

The current version of MIL-STD 810G was issued on October 31, 2008, and addresses how to tailor equipment's design and test limits to the conditions that it will likely experience throughout its life. MIL-STD 810G also established chamber test methods which served to replicate the effects of environments on products, rather than having to subject the equipment to the actual environments themselves.

If you cant see this cool video of Otterbox testing their new Resurgence case, click HERE.

Another great example of compliance with military standards is popular smartphone case manufacturer Griffin and their listing of all the ways in which their Survivor cases comply with MIL-STD 810G. The Survivor cases have been tested to withstand:

• Wind and wind-blown rain, totaling 200 mm of rainfall over the course of one hour.

• A 6-foot drop.

• Wind blown dust and dirt at 18 meters a second for 3 hours.

• Vibrations of between 20-2000 Hz for 18 hours.

While MIL-STD 810G is an impressive claim and achievement and some companies make a point of letting buyers know that their products have passed certain tests, it's definitely a case of buyer beware. Just because certain products claim to meet Military Standards, does not necessarily mean that the product has been independently tested and verified, nor does it mean that said product has in fact, been tested at all, as tests and testing equipment can be expensive. So while it is true that if you see a MIL-STD 810G rating on a case or other techie product, it usually means that the product is dependable, durable, and ready to take some abuse, it's always good to do a little research, and read some reviews when possible. Since there is no commercial agency or organization that certifies compliance, vendors, and manufacturers can technically create the test methods for their specific product's application, if they are tested at all. If you want to know more about what tests a manufacturer puts their product through, and whether those tests were performed independently or in-house, don't hesitate to ask them.

Another term we see getting tossed around a lot has to do with a product's water resistance. Known as an Ingress Protection (IP) rating, this standard lets you know how much you can rely on any given product to keep water and debris (and even hands and fingers) away from what are often sensitive electronic components encased within some type of a protective shell. IP ratings can also apply to impact protection, so there is some overlap between an IP rating an a MIL-STD rating.

Rather than consumers having to rely on ambiguous marketing terms such as waterproof, IP-ratings provide us with specifics standards which determine exactly how impervious a given product actually is. The "IP" code is followed by two digits which indicate conformity with various environmental test conditions. In instances where there is no protection rating regarding certain requirements or standards, the letter X is substituted in that digit's space. The first digit following the "IP" typically refers to solid particle protection and goes from 1–6, with 6 being the highest level of protection from dust, sand etc. The second digit then refers to liquid ingress protection and goes from 1–9K, with 9K indicating that a product is protected against close range, high temperature, and high pressure spraying.

So when companies like Lifeproof or Otterbox say their cases provide IP-68 protection, it means the products in question offer the highest level of dust protection and are suitable for continuous immersion in water under conditions specified by the manufacturer—which in terms of device cases usually means that the case protects an electronic device for 30 minutes submerged at a depth of 6 feet. Another thing you may notice is that in some instances you'll see accessories that display an IP-X6, or IP-X8 rating, for example. These ratings would mean that while the product may not have been tested against wind-blown dust specifically, it is nonetheless, very well sealed and well protected and therefore, a certain level of inherent dust protection can be inferred. Again, buyer beware, it's always good to ask questions of the manufacturer before you invest in a product that may, or may not, meet your criteria.

These days, with all of the ruggedly designed gear available for our mobile devices, it's good to know what packaging labels and marketing materials advertising Military Standards or IP-ratings really mean. To help give a better idea of products that can legitimately lay claim to these rugged criteria, below is a short list featuring some great examples of accessories that meet MIL-STD 810G and/or have high IP-ratings:

Grace Digital's Ecostone Bluetooth Waterproof Speaker($149.99) IP-68 and MIL-STD 810

Fugoo Bluetooth Waterproof Speaker($199.99-$229.99) IP-67

Blue Ant PUMP Bluetooth Waterproof Headphones ($129.95) IP-67

Lifeproof Waterproof Cases IP-68 and MIl-STD 810

For iPhone 4–5s: $79.99-$89.99

For iPad: $99.99-$129.99

Otterbox Preserver Waterproof Cases ($67.46) IP-X8 and MIL-STD 810

We hope this helps make sense of all the codes and number that you'll so often see on ruggedized mobile gear. Let us know if you have any questions, or experiences with these or other rugged tech products, in the comments below.