iNews Review

iOS 6 Maps Alternatives, iPhone 5 Less Toxic than Most, A6 CPU Varies Its Speed, and More

This Week's iPad, iPhone, iPod, and Apple TV News

Compiled by Charles Moore and edited by Dan Knight - 2012.10.08

Mac notebook and other portable computing is covered in The 'Book Review, and general Mac news is in Mac News Review. Older Macs are covered in Vintage Mac News. All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.

Purchases made through links to Amazon.com and Apple's iTunes/iBook/App/Mac App Store support Low End Mac.

iOS 6 News, Reviews, & Opinion

iPhone 5 News, Reviews, & Opinion

Other News, Reviews, & Opinion

iPad mini Rumor Roundup

Apps & Services

Accessories

iPod Deals

These price trackers are updated every month.

iOS 6 News, Reviews, & Opinion

Does Apple Have a Problem with Israel?

The Huffington Post's Rabbi Jason Miller notes that The Algemeiner was the first to report this week that Apple's new iOS 6 Maps app, doesn't show Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, even though every other country on the map has its official capital listed. Moreover, on the built-in World Clock app included in iOS 6, Jerusalem is the only city listed without an affiliated country, and some users of Apple's new mobile operating system have also noticed an inability to locate Jerusalem hotels using Apple Maps, while finding hotels in other Israeli cities, like Tel Aviv, was possible.

Rabbi Miller says this leaves Israelis and Israel supporters wondering about Apple's political views toward the Jewish state, what with the Maps application and the World Clock both omitting Israel from being associated with Jerusalem, and cites Forbes' Peter Cohan listing Apple's omission of Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel as one of the six epic fails of the new Apple operating system. Peter Cohan opines in the article, "Let's hope this Apple Map epic fail does not set off another Middle East conflagration." While this story is making headlines, it is not the first time that there have been questionable omissions of Jerusalem in mobile apps or on the Web.

He further observes that Google Maps does list Jerusalem as Israel's capital - and notes the irony in that without Israel there would be no iPhone, since newer iPhone versions use a microchip that was developed in Israel by Qualcomm Israel.

Consumer Reports: iOS 6 Maps Not So Bad After All

Consumer Reports has posted results of a navigation app shootout they conducted Apple iOS 6 vs. Google Android 4.0.4, noting that their first impressions of Apple Maps was disappointment, that they had expected Apple's app to match the state of the art, and perhaps even advance it.

But it didn't.

They now say that having put Apple Maps through the paces, their original criticisms remain, but testing Apple Maps alongside a Samsung Galaxy S3 running Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) with Google Maps, they have a more favorable opinion of Apple's offering - it doesn't suck so much after all.

Top Tier Alternatives to iOS 6 Maps

Apple'N'Apps' Trevor Sheridan says if iOS 6 Maps aren't working out for you, you're not alone - but luckily the App Store is full of great alternatives to appeal to your tastes no matter what, noting that he hasn't used the stock Maps app for years simply because there are so many better third party apps in the App Store ranging from free to premium navigation apps.

If Apple's new maps aren't cutting it for you, Sheridan suggests and profiles as alternatives:

Publisher's note: I've been using Waze on my iPhone for a few months now and really like it. In addition to offering maps and driving directions, Waze lets users report accidents and traffic slowdowns, share gas prices, and update the maps as they discover changes. It even speaks turn-by-turn directions as you drive. Recommended. dk

WinSuperSite's Paul Thurrott on Apple iOS 6

Always interesting to hear what Paul Thurrott has to say about Apple products, since he has no inclination to be an Apple cheerleader. His take: iOS 6 is in need of a complete overhaul, but Apple tends to innovate once a decade on core products and then pile on a bunch of new features and fixes for free, which is hard to argue with, rather than making the sweeping changes that are increasingly needed.

Thurrott disputes Apple's claim that iOS in "the world's most advanced mobile operating system," one that is both elegant and intuitive, saying that's not just a stretch, but out of touch with reality. In his estimation, iOS is not elegant or intuitive - just familiar, because so many people have been using it for so many years, and furthermore the real reason iPhone users profess to love iOS is because of the 700,000 apps that run on it - more than what's available for Android (600,000) and about seven times the app selection on Windows Phone.

However, he acknowledges that there's a lot of good in iOS - the notification center is well done and infinitely configurable, Safari is an excellent mobile browser, and the content apps and stores are full-featured and well-stocked, and backed by Apple's iCloud online service, plus iOS provides best-in-class accessibility features, and excellent email, calendar, and phone experiences.

But then there's Siri and Apple's new Maps app....

iPhone 5 News, Reviews, & Opinion

A6 Processor in iPhone 5 Varies Clock Speed to Optimize Performance and Battery Life

TUAW's Victor Agreda, Jr. notes that a possible reason the iPhone 5 has such great battery life is the clever way the A6 changes its clock speed. While originally thought to be clocked at 1 GHz, Agreda notes that the chip has been clocked at 1.1 GHz as well as 1.3 GHz by Current Editorials, while 9 to 5 Mac saw the chip's speed drop as low as 550 MHz.

He reports that it appears the chip can change speeds, resulting in better battery life and dynamically tuning itself to demand on the CPU.

How Much Does It Cost to Charge an iPhone 5? Would You Believe 41¢ per Year?

Outlier's Barry Fischer says the popularity of the new iPhone 5 begged the question of how much juice does it take each year to charge a next-generation smartphone? And how does the energy consumption of smartphones compare to that of other consumer electronics?

To find out, Opower got its hands on a new iPhone 5 and also a Samsung Galaxy S III - currently the hottest Android handset - and then headed into the Opower Lab for some testing.

The resulting estimate: charging an iPhone 5 will cost roughly 41¢ per year, while the Galaxy costs 12¢ more to charge annually than the iPhone 5, primarily because of its larger battery.

That sounds trivial, but Fischer notes that the growing scale of smartphone use (i.e. a projected soon-to-be 1 billion smartphone users, putting pressure on millions of data centers worldwide) will have a substantial cumulative effect on global power consumption.

On the other hand, due to smartphones displacing use of clunkier, more energy-intensive devices such as computers, televisions, and gaming consoles, an increase in smartphone usage is likely to cause lower overall energy consumption.

Smartphones and tablets use much less energy than the larger devices (e.g. PCs) that they are displacing, and the energy savings are substantial, for example about 20x less than a laptop and 68x less than a desktop.

Despite the Maps Controversy, iPhone 5 Gets Accolades from Users

The iPhone 5 is praised for speed, call clarity, and battery life on Viewpoints, a consumer reviews and product rankings website. Based on consumer sentiment, the 32 GB iPhone 5 ($299) is rated 94/100, ten points higher than the average smartphone rating.

Speed

Besides a larger screen, the most significant changes from the iPhone 4S are a faster processor and the ability to use advanced cellular networks, 4G LTE.

Battery Life

Nearly everyone reports the iPhone 5 battery is stronger compared to older iPhones.

Maps

Apple replaced Google Maps with its own program, which lacks functionality, like display of public transportation, an "epic fail" according to one reviewer. The maps do offer turn-by-turn directions, as well as restaurants as landmarks. Most Viewpoints reviewers aren't inconvenienced and like the look.

Viewpoints General Manager Denise Chudy says, "Based on early reviews, people are obviously passionate about the iPhone 5. It's our hope that those insights help others decide if the iPhone 5 is the right choice for their needs and budget."

How Does iPhone 5 Rate as a Camera?

dpreview's Barney Britton and Kelcey Smith say that while Apple might not have set out to make some of the most popular cameras on the planet with its iPhone range of smartphones, that's exactly what has happened, with iPhone cameras having evolved from 2 MP mediocrity with the original iPhone and iPhone 3G, to the more serious 5 MP iPhone 4, and the genuinely very nice 8 MP resolution of the iPhone 4S - and the iPhone 5 brings a larger screen, faster processor, and redesigned camera compared to its predecessor, although the pixel count is unchanged at 8 MP.

Britton and Smith take a look at how the iPhone 5 stacks up against the iPhone 4 and 4S, noting that the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 actually offer genuinely useful image quality that in favorable conditions, is hard to tell apart from the output from "proper" cameras.

Study Finds iPhone 5 Has Less Toxic Chemicals than Galaxy S III

PR: For the first time, the Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center teamed up with technology gurus at iFixit.com to research toxic chemicals in 36 different cell phones, including the recently released iPhone 5 and Samsung's Galaxy S III. The results were released on October 3 at HealthyStuff.org and iFixit.com.

The Motorola Citrus ranked the least toxic phone, followed by the iPhone 4S and the LG Remarq. The new iPhone 5 ranked 5th, versus its primary competitor, Samsung Galaxy S III, which ranked 9th. The most toxic phone tested was the original 2007 iPhone. The full list of rankings can be found at HealthyStuff.org.

iPhone 5 toxics rating
iPhone 5 toxic chemical rating

Every phone sampled in this study contained at least one of following hazardous chemicals: lead, bromine, chlorine, mercury, and cadmium. These hazardous substances can pollute throughout a products life cycle, including when the minerals are extracted, when they are processed, during phone manufacturing, and at the end of the phones useful life. Emissions during disposal and recycling of phones as electronic waste, or e-waste, are particularly problematic. The mining of some tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold used in mobile phones has been linked to conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"Even the best phones from our study are still loaded with chemical hazards," says Jeff Gearhart, research director at the Ecology Center and founder of HealthyStuff.org. "These chemicals, which are linked to birth defects, impaired learning, and other serious health problems, have been found in soils at levels 10 to 100 times higher than background levels at e-waste recycling sites in China. We need better federal regulation of these chemicals, and we need to create incentives for the design of greener consumer electronics."

A 2004 study found that three-quarters of all cellphones leach lead at levels that would qualify them as hazardous waste. While tracking e-waste is difficult, it is estimated that 50-80% is exported to countries such as China, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, and the Philippines, where there is a labor-intensive, informal recycling infrastructure that often lacks environmental and human health safeguards.

"In 2009, 2.37 million tons of electronics were ready for what the Environmental Protection Agency calls end-of-life management - code for broken, dead, outdated, and unwanted devices," says Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit.com. "Of the digital castoffs, only 25% made it into recycling centers. We can't allow the other 75% of our old electronics to become waste. All those toxics add up. E-waste is an enormous problem that can result in toxic chemicals seeping into drinking water and poisoning the environment."

Most of the 36 cell phones analyzed were models released in the last 5 years. The phones tested represent 10 mobile phone manufacturers, including Apple, Hewlett-Packard Development Company, HTC Corporation, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., LG Electronics, Motorola, Nokia Corporation, Palm, Research in Motion, and Samsung Electronics. The sample represents the largest set ever released for any electronic product. In total, 1,105 samples were analyzed for 35 different chemicals and elements. The phones were completely disassembled and interior and exterior components were tested using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF).

Consumer demand for more sustainable mobile phones is driving companies to produce better products, said Gearhart. We also need better federal and international policy to manage both chemicals and e-waste, as well as to promote sustainable design.

Highlights of Findings

  • 100% of cell phones tested contain chemical hazards.
  • Samsung phones had the highest average rating of all phone tested.
  • Apple, now among industry leaders, showed the greatest improvement. The iPhone 2G, introduced in 2007 rated as the poorest phone tested. The two most recent Apple phones, the 4S and 5, are among the best phones tested.
  • Newer phones are better than older phones. Overall product ratings have improved significantly (33%) since 2007. This reflects an increased focus on reducing chemical hazards by the industry.
  • Transition to safer alternatives is underway. Leading manufacturers, including Apple, Sony, Samsung, and others, have started the shift to safer materials and chemistries.

Manufacturers are cleaning up their act in part by:

  1. Using less hazardous resins, including thermoplastic copolymers and polyamide to replace PVC in cabling and other applications.
  2. Avoiding the need for cabling through simplified design.
  3. Using mercury-free LCD displays and arsenic-free glass.
  4. Using bromine- and chlorine-free printed circuit board laminates.
  5. Moving to less toxic, reactive phosphorous-based flame retardant chemistries.

Progress Being Made on Cellphone Toxics, but Problem Remains Massive

iFixit CEO Kyle Weins says:

"High technology feels so clean - no coal or steam or mess, just cool aluminum, sleek plastics, and polished glass. But that clean surface hides an interior that is far messier and more toxic. In partnership with HealthyStuff.org, we bring you a chemical analysis of 36 mobile phones, including the iPhone 5...

"The highly neurotoxic n-hexane, used during manufacturing to clean glass, is still poisoning cell phone plant workers more than a year after reports of sick workers first surfaced. But its easy to forget that toxic chemicals also lurk behind your phones smooth face and behind your computers keyboard. Yet lurk they do: high tech parts are made up of hazardous flame retardants, PVC, bromine, and heavy metals such as lead, mercury, tin, cadmium, and chromium. The list is long and rightfully intimidating. These are not things we want in our water or air....

"Newer phones are being made with fewer hazardous chemicals: every phone that was ranked of high concern was released before 2010. The newest phones, including the iPhone 5, are some of the best. Nevertheless, many toxics remain..."

Other News, Reviews, & Opinion

Apple's Dominance of Tablet Market Fading Rapidly

PR: Pew Research's journalism.org reports that while tablet computer ownership has rapidly increased from 11% of US adults in July of 2011 to 18% in January of 2012, and a separate survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project on July 16 through August 7, 2012 that found 25% of all US adults now have a tablet computer, this rate of growth in tablet adoption likely being related to the advent of lower-priced tablets in late 2011. The researchers note that about two-thirds of tablet-owning adults, 68%, got their tablet in the last year, including 32% in 2012 alone.

One consequence has been to diminish Apple's dominance in the media tablet market, with just over half, 52%, of tablet owners in this latest survey reporting owning an iPad, compared with 81% in the survey a year ago. Android-based devices make up the bulk of the remaining tablet ownership, 48% overall, dominated largely by the Kindle Fire. Two in ten, 21%, own a Kindle Fire, 8% the Samsung Galaxy, and the rest, a mix of others. The report notes that these numbers match very closely with sales data which put the Apple iPad at 61% of world sales, Android devices at 31% and Windows at 4%.)

It's notable that this survey was conducted before the introduction of Google's Nexus 7 or Amazon's Kindle Fire HD, or the new Nook series of tablets from Barnes & Noble.

The researchers observe that the influx of Android-based devices has changed the tablet market, much as it did for smartphones over the past several years. Of the 44% of adults who have a smartphone, 46% have an Android phone, 38% have an iPhone and 10% have a Blackberry.

it is also noted that among users with both a tablet and a smartphone, there is some operating system loyalty, with a majority of iPad owners who also have smartphones owning an iPhone (57%); while just 32% have an Android phone. Similarly, 66% of those who have an Android tablet have an Android phone and 29% have an iPhone.

iPad mini Rumor Roundup

Momentum Builds for iPad mini Launch

The Register's Tony Smith suggests that Apple PR is covertly building coverage momentum in mainstream and business media ahead of its new iPad mini tablet's formal unveiling, leaking intelligence that the new device will have a 7.85" (20 cm) display with lower screen resolution than the iPad 3's 2048 x 1536 Retina panel. Smith notes that while a 1024 x 768 screen resolution to that of the iPad 2 has been widely rumored, logic dictates that with the iPhone 5s new display dimensions it's entirely possible that the iPad mini's display will have a 16:9 rather than a traditional 4:3 aspect ratio.

iPad mini Production Underway at Foxconn Plant in Brazil?

Japanese blogsite Macotakara reports that according to reliable sources, production of Apple's new iPad mini seems to have commenced at the new Foxconn facility in Brazil, although they have not been able to verify whether the production has been started in China as well.

AU Optronics Building Display Panels for iPad mini

DigiTimes' Julian Ho and Alex Wolfgram report that TFT-LCD panel maker AU Optronics (AUO) has reportedly landed panel orders for Apple's rumored 7.85" iPad, which is expected to be released in November 2012.

iPad mini Could Complicate Things for Windows 8 Tablets

Slashdot contributor Soulskill cites Nerval's Lobster writing that if Apple is planning to reveal a smaller iPad sometime in October, the unveiling of an iPad mini in that timeframe could prove very bad news for the upcoming Windows 8 tablets.

Apps & Services

Intego Releases New Version of VirusBarrier iOS

PR: Intego has announced VirusBarrier iOS 1.4, an important update to their popular malware scanner for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices. Based on the award-winning technology of Intego's Mac OS X anti-malware tool, VirusBarrier iOS allows users to scan files attached to email messages in the cloud for malware that could affect Macs or Windows PCs. Version 1.4 improves usability by allowing you to view most common document types directly from VirusBarrier iOS immediately after scanning them.

With its easy-to-use interface and integrated functionality, VirusBarrier iOS makes scanning email attachments quicker and simpler than ever before.

As mobile and portable devices continue to gain popularity, it's absolutely crucial to ensure that infected files and attachments aren't getting passed from devices to home computers. VirusBarrier iOS takes security a step further by scanning email attachments to make sure they're safe to open. Once installed, the app prompts to scan email attachments that the user tries to open. The scanner's intuitive interface allows users to launch safe files and alerts them whenever suspicious attachments have been discovered.

In addition to scanning email attachments, VirusBarrier iOS lets users manually scan remote locations such as websites, FTP sites, Dropbox shares, or WebDAV disks. Automatic updates ensure ongoing protection from the latest, most recent Mac, Windows, and Unix threats. VirusBarrier iOS is powered by Intego's award-winning VirusBarrier X6 scanning technology and includes the following functionality:

  • Prevents the transfer of malware from your iOS devices to your computers by scanning files, ZIP archives, and email attachments for Mac, Windows and Unix viruses and malware
  • Protects your devices by scanning files for spyware, adware, keyloggers, Trojan Horses, and more
  • Repairs infected files and keeps a log of all scans
  • Scans your folders stored in remote locations such as Dropbox, iDisks and WebDAV disks
  • Updates with the most recent malware definitions to ensure you're protected from the newest and latest threats

Device Requirements:

  • iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad
  • Requires iOS 4.0 or later
  • 50.9 MB

VirusBarrier iOS 1.4 is 99¢ (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Utilities category.

YouVersion Offers Free Multi-Translation Cross-Platform Bible App

PR: Bible.com features a free online Bible from YouVersion.

Take your choice from nearly 300 Bible versions in more than 150 languages. Compare two versions side by side. You can also choose your font and display size.

YouVersion for Mac

Study the Bible

Highlight in your favorite color, bookmark your favorite Bible verses, and make notes about what you're learning, building a history of your interaction with the Bible.

Subscribe to Bible Plans

YouVersion on MacCover the whole Bible, focus on a topic, or read a devotional from a gifted teacher. Choose your plan and each day you'll find a Bible selection waiting for you.

The free Bible App from LifeChurch.tv includes a huge selection of 200+ free Bible versions and 200+ plans to help you track your Bible study progress. Now the Bible reads to you with audio Bibles. No in-app purchases - everything is free.

Offline Access/Airplane Mode

Download many great translations to use while you are offline (no data connection) or in airplane mode: The Message, NKJV, KJV, NET, NCV, Gods Word, ASV, WEB, Reina-Valera 1960, ELB, LSG, CUVS, CUV, NB88/07 and many more.

Many Great Translations

YouVersion on iPhoneFree access to many modern English translations including the NIV, ESV, NLT, NKJV, AMP, NASB, CEV, NET, WEB, NCV, TNIV, HCSB, The Message, and more.

Free access to many modern Spanish translations including the Reina-Valera 1960 (RVR60), NVI, LBLA, NBLH, and more.

Free access many foreign language Bibles including German, French, Italian, Chinese Simplified and Traditional, Swedish, Korean, Japanese, Norwegian, Czech, Bulgarian, Dutch, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, and more.

Many Special Features

Easily search the Bible for either a reference or a keyword. Search results are displayed quickly for fast navigation. Choose from dozens of daily reading plans to help you read the Bible consistently. Track your reading progress, sync your changes back to YouVersion.com where you can join millions of other YouVersion users and discuss what you've read.

Connect your Twitter and Facebook account to easily tweet and post verses. Bookmark your favorite verses and sync those verses with YouVersion.com

Notes

Take notes and keep them public or private. Notes are synced with YouVersion.com. View public notes (used to be called contributions) from other Bible App users.

Use the Bible App in Church

YouVersion on iPadInteract with church services and conferences. Just tap the Live icon in the dock at the bottom when attending a church service or event where YouVersion Live is being used. Take notes, respond to polls, answer questions, tweet about the event, and more.

Coming Soon - tons of daily reading plans many new Bible versions in many languages.

Take the Bible with You

You can also download the Bible App for free on any mobile device. When you use the mobile app, your notes, bookmarks, highlights, plans, and more will be synced with Bible.com. You'll have access to it all, no matter if you're reading the Bible on your phone, tablet, or computer.

New in Version 4.0.1

YouVersion on iPadFeatures:

  • iPad: Select book sorting preferences
  • iPad: Update your profile picture
  • iPad: Plans: Set reminders, email delivery
  • Turn on/off Show Today at launch
  • Added British English

Fixes:

  • Improved stability on iOS v3.x
  • Corrected VoiceOver, accessibility issues
  • Plans: Complete a plan on any device, and all its reminders stop
  • Plan search: No results doesn't crash
  • iPad: Plans: Fixed switching to different day
  • iPad: Plans: [Done]/[Action] no longer overlap
  • iPad: Offline mode: Fixed book selection

System Requirements

  • iOS version compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later
  • YouVersion is also available for Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, Windows 8, HP/Palm, Java, Symbian, Mobile Web, and Kindle Fire

Free

Accessories

Koala Mount Sticks iPad to Any Vertical Surface

PR: Dockem's Koala Mount lets you conveniently use and view your tablet while keeping it safe from spills, smears and damage. Whether you're using your iPad or other tablet to follow a new dinner recipe, Koala Mount for iPadSkype with family or to watch the morning news while you're performing your morning ablutions in the bathroom, you can now enjoy handsfree viewing without getting a crick in your neck. The Koala Mount securely holds your iPad or other compatible tablet device in place on any wall or hard, vertical surface.

Designed to fit all versions of the iPad and several Android tablets including Samsung's Galaxy tablet line, the Koala Mount can be installed in seconds using 3M Command Strips. Simply attach the strips to the back of the mount and affix it to a wall above an outlet for safe charging, next to the bed, your bathroom mirror, at eye level at your desk for video calls or anywhere else you need to be able to use and view and your tablet without having to slouch or bend over to see the screen.

The Koala Mount features a hidden cord clip to keep your charger easily at-hand. To use the Koala Mount, simply slide your iPad or tablet into the side brackets for a snug and secure fit. Koala Mount for iPadWhen you're ready to take your device on the go again, just slide it out of the brackets with one hand. Furthermore, the Command strips can be removed without damaging your wall, so if you ever want to move your Koala Mount from one wall or room to another, you never have to worry about repairing screw holes or repainting. New 3M Command Strips can be purchased at a variety of retailers to hang your mount over and over again.

The Koala Mount uses two independent brackets allowing you to space them at the correct distance apart for your tablet. You also have the flexibility to use the Koala Mount to hold your tablet with a landscape or portrait view. The Koala Mount can be used along with many protective cases including the Apple Smart Cover, and you can charge any tablet while it is resting in the mount.

Koala Mount for iPadThe original Dockem prototype was a duct tape pouch created by company cofounder Chris Moyer when he needed a way to store his cellphone next to his bed in college. Lacking a bedside table, Moyer created a pouch out of the tape and stuck it to the side of his dresser. But, it left a mess to clean up when removed. Knowing there had to be a better way to safely store his phone within easy reach, Moyer developed the idea for the Dockem and the Koala Mount. Dockem is headquartered in East Stroudsburg, PA and is run by cofounders and brothers, Chris and Colby Moyer.

The Koala Mount retails for $19.99 and includes 2 Koala brackets, 2 Standard 3M Command strips, a surface prep pad, and full instructions.

Scottevest Fleece 7.0 Technology Enabled Jacket a Perfect Accessory for iPhone 5

ScottevestPR: Scottevest, Inc. specializes in pocketed clothing marketed toward travelers, gadgetphiles, photographers, and urban adventurers, and their new Fleece 7.0 Jacket is available now as a preorder to ship October 31, 2012.

ScottevestThe Fleece 7.0 is the successor to Scottevest's signature jacket, the Fleece 5.0. The Fleece 7.0 features a new patent pending pocket, the Quick Draw pocket, inspired by London based blogger, Documentally. This allows you to access your iPhone 5 (or other smartphone) through the Clear Touch Fabric in the hand warmer pocket, which they say is something you truly need to test out for yourself.

Scottevest believes this feature will fundamentally change the way you interact with your mobile devices. You can plug it in to your wired in headsets or use Siri and FaceTime right through the clear touch fabric, without ever removing your phone from your pocket. You can check out video demos.

More Fleece 7.0 key features:

  • Scottevest23 innovative, purposeful pockets for are perfect for gadget lovers, travelers and photographers on the move
  • Speaking of pocket innovations, this updated style also includes a new iPad/tablet pocket design, which adds extra security and better ergonomics when pocketing a large device.
  • The In-and-Out Pocket debuts on the Fleece 7.0, allowing you to access the interior chest pocket from the exterior of the jacket.
  • An updated eyeglass pocket with both top and zippered side access contains a cleaning chamois with a map showing each of the jacket's many pockets.
  • Since the sleeves are removable with cleverly hidden zippers, a dual-access back lumbar pocket has been included to hold them if you are wearing the Fleece 7.0 as a vest.
  • ScottevestFleece 7.0 can turn into a vest
  • Inside, just in case you need to "show your papers" or "stow your papers" in a hurry, there's a travel documents pocket with a red zipper and a locking zipper pull, making it nearly impossible to pickpocket.
  • Attention to detail continues inside with a silky lining and a subtle "fractal" design comprised of our logo in shades of black and gray.
  • Ergonomic zipper pulls make getting into your pockets easy (even with gloves).
  • Totally stealthy, the Fleece 7.0 is black with gray accents and has NO reflective piping. And if stealth isn't your thing, it's also available in a limited edition Red version.

ScottevestScottevestThe Fleece 7.0 sells for $160 and is now available for preorder on the company's website and will be shipping at the end of October.

Scottevest was named the #41 apparel ecommerce site in 2011 by Internet Retailer Magazine and #77 fastest growing Consumer Products & Services Companies by Inc. Magazine. SeV specializes in stylish jackets, shirts and pants with a unique hidden pockets for travelers, and a patented system of conduits and pockets for carrying, using and enjoying personal electronics, and is the first clothing company to provide a pocket for the iPad.

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