You’re the Pundit: Is the iPhone 5 a must buy for you? + MORE iPhone News 09/16/2012

When Apple revealed its new Passbook mobile payment system as part of the iOS 6 preview in June, many industry watchers expected the addition of near-field communications capability on the next version of the iPhone that would compliment Passbook. That new iPhone is here, but there’s no NFC feature in sight. The question now is Apple being shrewd, or is it about to miss out on a real opportunity?
In an interview with All Things Digital, Phil Schiller, Apple senior VP, revealed that Apple’s decision to leave out NFC was based very much on Passbook:
It’s not clear that NFC is the solution to any current problem, Schiller said…

This is entirely too cool. A recently funded Kickstarter project lets you produce Polaroid-like instant photos from your iPhone. As you can see, after you take a photo with the iPhone, it’s placed on a modified stand that exposes it to instant film stored inside. Once that process is done, the device spits out your picture and you wait for it to develop (shaking optional).

It’s cool that this has been funded. It’s bulky, yes, but the retro appeal can’t be denied.
Impossible Lab: turn iPhone snapshots into instant photos originally appeared on TUAW – The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST…

When it comes to evaluating the next big thing, we turn to our secret weapon: the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today’s topic is new devices and purchasing plans.

On Wednesday, Tim Cook and friends introduced the new and delicious iPhone 5. With a speedy new processor and a camera system to die for — to say nothing of that expanded screen and gloriously fast LTE wireless — is this the gadget that makes you open your wallet? Or will you choose the new iPod touch instead? Same great screen, same great Siri, but no cellular contract (saving you money in the long run)…

Samsung may have lost the patent battle against Apple, but that doesn’t mean the Korean electronics giant has quieted down.
In a new ad shown to Mashable that will start running in various national and regional papers on Sunday, Samsung has stacked the specs of its Galaxy S III smartphone against the newly-announced iPhone 5.
What’s first noticeable about the ad is its tagline, which is an obvious jab at Apple: “It doesn’t take a genius.” Not only does this reference Apple’s “genius” retail employees, Samsung also implies that deciding between the two devices is a piece of cake…

Many of our readers are asking themselves if they should spring for the iPhone 5. Early reports look like it’s flying off the shelves.

I asked my colleagues if they plan to buy an iPhone 5. You might think, MacHeads that we are, that we’d all be buying. Not necessarily so.

Kelly Guimont: I’d like to, but house buying means all my pennies go in that jar. Also, at a minimum I’m not going to pre-order because I want to pick one up and hold it to see how it is. I’m thinking I might pick up a 32 GB 4S (my 4 is 16 GB) outright so I can “upgrade” and try to get on the “evolution” upgrade path instead of the “revolution” upgrade path…

Looking for the best apps? Here’s our weekend roundup of our favorite new and updated apps for iOS, BlackBerry and Android.
More About: android, apps, iphone, trending, weekly app roundup

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Apple’s newest iPhone finally brings 4G LTE to the device, a long awaited transition, but customers of Sprint and Verizon find themselves in a familiar situation. The iPhone 5 on both carriers will not allow simultaneous voice calls and data transmission, a feature AT&T long has lorded over its rivals. A combination of technology restraints and design decisions by Apple once again leave Sprint and Verizon customers without a feature that, theoretically, should be very simple…

Here’s now not to get an iPhone 5 when the day comes later this month for the device to be in-stores: driving straight through your local Apple Store‘s front window. That’s just what a couple robbers did earlier this month in a case that Apple has released evidence in – the video of the vehicle the robbers drove is quite clear to see. Have a peek at what it means to have a terrible, terrible idea, then go through with it.

What you’re seeing here is a car smashing directly through the window and the front security gate at an Apple Store in Temecula, California…

Twitter is a wonderful place for one-liners. To be funny on the site, you’ve got to be sharp and practice economy of language. You’ve only got 140 characters to make an impression.
And what better way to wind-down the work day than with a selection of some of the day’s most entertaining tweets.
Enjoy!

Follow @zachbraff
Zach Braff @zachbraff

How do you tell if someone has the new iPhone 5? Don’t worry, they’ll let you know…
 Reply  ·  Retweet  ·  Favorite22 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto

Follow @bazecraze
Alex Baze @bazecraze

“Oh, I just can’t sleep past 8 o’clock” -future strangling victim
 Reply  ·  Retweet  ·  Favorite19 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

Follow @FauxJohnMadden
Faux John Madden @FauxJohnMadden

Tough break for Jay Cutler…