The iPhone's camera has been sitting at 8 megapixels ever since the iPhone 4S, and with the introduction of the iPhone 5s, that hasn't changed. Even though other smartphones offer higher camera resolutions, Apple has managed to find ways to make its 8 megapixels look surprisingly good, and with the just announced 5s, it's working to make those 8 megapixels more compelling, too.

Apple announced on Tuesday a major deal to bring the iPhone to Japan's largest wireless carrier, DoCoMo. DoCoMo is the largest carrier in the developed world to have resisted carrying the iPhone, and the deal significantly extends Apple's reach with the iPhone.

The iPhone media event is over.  How did Apple do with its announcements?  Did we get what we expected? Did it brighten our day?  John Martellaro tallies up a scorecard.

Apple has quickly posted the video for the "This should brighten everyone's day" media event introducing the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c.  It's currently on Apple's "Apple Events" page, and features Apple CEO Tim Cook, SVPs Phil Schiller and Craig Federighi, and videos with Sir Jonny Ive and Dan Riccio, and tons of information on its new devices.

Apple announced the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c on Tuesday, and they include some substantial differences. Among them is the fact that you can pre-order the iPhone 5c starting Friday, September 13th, while you can't pre-order the iPhone 5s. If you want the 5s, you'll have to order it on September 20th or get in line.

Apple launched its AppleCare+ program in Europe today. The extended warranty program is available in the UK, France, and Italy. Apple is offering AppleCare+ for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod in each country. In the UK, AppleCare+ will cost about $124 for iPad and iPhone, and $78…

At its keynote address today, Apple introduced cases to accompany its new iPhone 5c and 5s handsets. The iPhone 5c Case, which goes for $29, is made of silicone rubber and features a 5 x 7 series of dots to reveal the color of the device below. It will be…

Apple has set up pages to pre-order the iPhone 5c. The new phone can be pre-ordered starting Sept. 13, with plans from AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon, or contract-free from T-Mobile at $549 or $649 for 16GB or 32GB, respectively. Notably, the…

Apple keeps figuring out how to make our life better with technology in ways that we keep missing or not thinking about. It's an Apple hallmark that we keep forgetting about over and over, then smile when we see it.

Apple unveiled a hotly anticipated feature in the iPhone 5S on Tuesday, Touch ID. This is a fingerprint-based authentication technology that you can use to unlock your iPhone and confirm iTunes purchases, a significant step closer to an Apple-branded "mobile payment" solution.

Breaking with recent tradition, Apple apparently will not be streaming live video of its 2013 “brighten everyone’s day” iPhone Event from its Cupertino headquarters. Regardless, we’ll be posting live updates here to discuss what’s taking place at the event as it happens. Thus far, details leaked before the event strongly…

Apple announced on Tuesday that it will be giving away five apps from its iWork and iLife suites free to purchasers of new iOS devices. The company said that customers will be able to download Pages, Numbers, Keynote, iPhoto, and iMovie for iOS free during the setup process on new iOS devices when they're released later this month.

Apple's much anticipated iOS 7 will finally be available ship Wednesday, September 18. The company made the announcement during its special media event on Tuesday.

Apple has officially announced the iPhone 5C. The iPhone 5C comes in five different colors — white, blue, pink, yellow, and green.

Developing…

One more leak before today’s Apple event appears to show the iPhone 5S’s Home Button now listed as a “Home Button/Touch ID sensor” in the device’s user guide. The device’s fingerprint scanner will apparently be referred to by Apple as a Touch ID sensor.

Apple's online store was replaced with the familiar "We'll be back soon" message Tuesday morning ahead of the company's "This should brighten everyone's day" media event. The company is expected to introduce new iPhone models, including a mid-range model called the iPhone 5C.

The folks at Boinx Software had a clever idea, an app that allows you to show others only the photos and videos you want to show on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. PhotoPresenter for iOS allows you to browse all of your photos and videos while hooked up to a display (HDMI or VGA, or via AirPlay), and select only those you want to show. Select the right images, and that's all your audience sees. That's handy for keeping your personal photos and videos out of a business presentation and anything you don't want your family seeing at a get together. It's US$0.99, a hybrid app for iPhone and iPad, and it's available on the App Store now.

Apple has reportedly begun hiring more advertising executives, going against a long-term directive from the late Steve Jobs to limit the size of the internal marketing department. Online reports say the company is increasing the size of its marketing department from 300 to 500 or 600 people, but Bryan Chaffin explains why this doesn't mean Tim Cook is letting the marketing folks take over.

Let's say you have an older iPhone, and it's eligible for an upgrade. You can order the newest iPhone from Apple directly and only pay the subsidized upgrade fee. You may never have to step into your carrier's store.  Here's how to do it.

Apple Senior Vice President of Industrial Design Jony Ive has teamed up with U2’s Bono and designer Marc Newson to create special items for The Global Fund in an upcoming auction, including a pair of 18-karat solid rose gold Apple EarPods. Ive and Newson customized the EarPods for the (RED)…

Just when we thought Microsoft was beginning to get it, to understand its plight in the world of mobility, the company schedules an event in New York to launch the Surface 2 tablet.  It's almost like doubling up on failure.

Apple is facing a class action lawsuit in California over false advertising allegations. According to the lawsuit, Apple split the final season of Breaking Bad into two season passes with eight episodes each instead of leaving all 16 episodes together.

The Mac Observer Spin:
Apple has been very clear with other TV show seasons it has split into two parts, but it looks like that wasn't the case with Breaking Bad. If customers really were misled, then Apple needs to do the right thing and fix the problem for everyone that feels they were deceived.

Discovering new music can be a challenge, but Vern Seward points out 2 free apps that will help in this week's Free on iTunes. NPR Music and musiXmatch. And there are more freebie as well.

The latest edition of iLounge Weekly, our weekly newsletter covering all things iLounge, will be arriving in subscribers’ inboxes early next week. iLounge Weekly is a summary of the week’s best news, reviews, and feature articles we’ve published, and it also features giveaways and accessory discount offers from various companies.…

Alleged photos of the iPhone 5S box were recently posted on a Chinese site. Notably, the Home Button no longer appears to have the rounded square icon — a previously rumored change. Instead, there’s a gray ring around the Home Button, which has also been rumored.

Want full-sized digital sound from your guitar or bass without the strain and hassle of lugging around a full-sized amp? The impressive (but inelegantly named) Sonoma Wire Works Guitar Jack Model 2 is stunning, but be prepared to BYOC (bring your own cable).

Odoyo has announced its SoftEdge and Candy Combo cases for Apple’s upcoming iPhone 5C. The SoftEdge ($20) cases are translucent, with a flash ring that claims to eliminate lens flare and light bleed from photos. SoftEdge cases have a polished glossy texture on the back for grip, and they…

Judge Denise Cote followed through on her plan to hobble Apple's position in the ebook market on Friday by imposing a permanent injunction on the company that limits it's ability to negotiate contracts with publishers and tosses out some of the provisions in the contracts the iPhone and iPad maker has already signed.

The Mac Observer Spin:
Apple is now restricted from effectively competing in the ebook market. In the end that's good news for Amazon since it can continue to undersell competitors and bring in more of the book market for itself.

Ten One Design's Pogo Connect pressure sensitive stylus for the iPad just became more versatile thanks to the company's brand new interchangeable tips. The set includes three rubber nibs in different sizes, plus two brushes. The nib sizes include 4.5 mm, 6 mm and 7.3 mm, and the brushes are available as straight edge or wide angle. The Pogo uses a magnetic attachment to hold tips in place, so they're easy to swap out. The rubber nibs are sold in pairs for US$9.95, and the brush set costs $24.95.

Apple's iPhone media event isn't until next Tuesday, but rumors about what's coming after that are already circulating and they include reports that a 6-inch model is being tested in the Cupertino labs. Of course Apple is testing a 6-inch iPhone model, and they're testing other screen sizes, too, while figuring out whether or not it makes sense to add bigger or smaller screen options. That's called research and design.

Apple Inc. responded swiftly to a new report of labor abuses in its supply chain in China, saying that it is already on-site investigating the factory in question. China Labor Watch issued a report on Thursday alleging a wide variety of abuses at a factory operated by Jabil Circuit.

There's something your MacBook Air or Pro probably doesn't have, and that's a carbon fiber case. That's because I haven't seen one on the market, but an enterprising young man from Dallas named Chetan Raj wants to change that. He's launched a Kickstarter project for carbon fiber cases that are custom made for Apple's full range of laptops. On the outside the case is shiny, reflective carbon fiber, and on the inside it will be held snugly in place by a foam lining that also serves to distribute the force of any impact evenly across your laptop. Mr. Raj needs funding to make it happen, however, so check out the video below and consider backing the project! There's also a ton of information on the project's Kickstarter page.

Carrier China Telecom briefly indicated that it was accepting reservations for Apple’s iPhone 5S and 5C. The message, which referenced sales of both new phones, was posted on a microblogging website and has been removed. It’s possible Apple could launch both devices in China earlier than usual, coinciding with an…

Hard Candy Cases is the latest company to unveil new cases for Apple’s upcoming iPhones, debuting its HarvestCraft Slider ($40) for iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C. The slider cases come in three different color combinations per base color package. Availability is listed…

With Apple's formally announced media event on September 10, the expectation is that Apple will be announcing one or more new iPhones.  Here's a handy guide to help you determine if your current iPhone is eligible for an upgrade with AT&T.

Ten One Design has released a set of new interchangeable magnetic tips for its Pogo Connect stylus for iPad, selling four different packages. Ten One Design’s R1 ($10) is built for note-taking, with a thin profile. The R2 ($10) is a bit thicker, and the R3 ($10) is…

Reportedly involved in producing the iPhone 5C, Apple supplier Jabil Circuit has been accused of numerous labor violations by China Labor Watch. The watchdog group has alleged that Jabil Circuit’s factory in Wuxi, China has engaged in infringements including millions of dollars in unpaid overtime wages, more than 100…

Adobe has expanded its Creative Cloud offerings by adding a new subscription bundle geared towards photographers. The US$9.99 a month bundle includes Photoshop CC, Lightroom 5, a Behance membership, and 20GB of online storage.

The Mac Observer Spin:
It's good to see Adobe responding to user feedback. The $9.99 a month Photoshop subscription bundle is a great start, so now how about showing InDesign users some love?

Samsung's Galaxy Gear, the smartwatch that has been rumored for about half as long as Apple's iWatch. The company announced it today, and the biggest thing Bryan Chaffin gets from it is that it should have been called the Galaxy Fear.

New Trent’s iPad mini Airbender case features a fully functional keyboard, full cover protection, and it is water resistant. The iPad mini can be tilted at any angle. The keyboard separates if needed for standalone use and yet still affords good protection. The price is excellent.

LYNKtec has released a new Artist Paintbrush Tip for the TruGlide Pro stylus.  This is a replaceable tip for the original Pro stylus barrel.  It's not pressure sensitive, and it doesn't afford finer lines when drawing. Instead, it simulates the traditional soft brush experience that artists appreciate.

VMWare announced the immediate availability of its Fusion 6 and Fusion 6 Professional virtualization apps for the Mac on Wednesday. The apps let Mac users run several versions of Windows, Linux, and other operating systems in OS X, and the new version 6 includes support for the soon to be released OS X Mavericks as well as Windows 8.1.

The Mac Observer Spin:
With Parallels Desktop 9 out, Fusion 6 had to be close behind. With both system virtualization apps available we're excited to see how they stack up against each other.

Not sure if iMessage is down for just you, or if it's everyone? Or maybe you want to know if iCloud's Photo Stream service or Siri is working right now. No problem. Apple's System Status Web page lists the current status of its online services and stores so you can tell at a glance what should and shouldn't be functional right now.

Jawbone has introduced Mini Jambox ($180), the newest and smallest addition to its line of Jambox Bluetooth speakers. Made from a single piece of aluminum with three drivers inside, Mini Jambox weighs 9 ounces, is just over six inches long, and slightly less than an inch deep. Using Bluetooth…

A leaked internal document from Telus appears to reveal that the Canadian carrier will discontinue the 32GB and 64GB iPhone 5 models on Sept. 28. The document hints—but doesn’t confirm—that Apple will discontinue those models, while continuing to sell the 16GB…

Apple followed up its invitations to a September media event with updates for its iOS versions of iPhoto, GarageBand, and iMovie on Tuesday. Apple's release notes are slim, but considering the likelihood that we'll get iOS 7 very soon, could include compatibility fixes for the OS upgrade for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.