iPhone Atlas

Apple reportedly wants approval over any manufacturer making Lightning accessories, but that move could delay their availability to consumers.

Citing "multiple reliable sources," iLounge reports that Apple recently made "significant changes" to its its MFi policy. Short for made for iPhone, iPod, and iPad, MFi certification is needed by third-party manufacturers that want the Apple seal of approval on their products.

Going forward, only facilities certified by Apple will be allowed to make accessories for the new Lightning interface, including those of third party companies. The only problem? Sources reportedly told iLounge that Apple has yet … Read more

The iPhone 5 is now officially certified for China.

Two models of Apple's flagship phone passed 3C (China Compulsory Certificate) certification on Monday, according to Sina Tech.

One goes by the model number A1429, which would be geared for China Unicom's WCDMA network and match up with the Hong Kong version of the iPhone 5, Sina Tech said. The other is model A1442, which would work on China Telecom's CDMA2000 network.

The 3C certification is a mandatory certificate system that inspects and approves various products to be sold in the Chinese market. The iPhone 5 faces two more challenges before it can reach China, … Read more

The iPhone 5 may have the same light leak problem that initially plagued other Apple devices.

Chiming in on the MacRumors forum, one user posted a photo of the new iPhone in relative darkness, showing a small flash of light coming from the top of the device behind the glass panel. Another posted a similar picture displaying the same light leak. Other users have since added to both discussions, reporting the same issue on their new iPhones.

Apple's Discussion Forums have also picked up a few complaints about the light leakage.

Some users say they received a replacement unit … Read more

Apple may have reserved the lion's share of iPhone 5 handsets for its own stores, leaving other retailers in short supply.

Citing "store sales staff and other people familiar with the situation," The Wall Street Journal reported today that Apple's own stores seemed to have a healthy stock of iPhone 5 units to sell this past weekend. But other retail outlets had to grapple with a much more limited supply right from the get-go.

People at Best Buy, RadioShack, and Target told the Journal that they didn't even receive enough units to satisify pre-sales orders. … Read more

iPhone 5 users who suffer a broken or scratched screen may be able to get a replacement directly in the store, according to a report from iMore.

Citing "sources within Apple retail," the blog site said that the equipment used to replace iPhone screens has started showing up in the stores themselves. This move means that Apple store reps could outfit an iPhone 5 with a new screen on the spot rather than switching the entire phone for a new or refurbished model.

The screen swap-out process for the new iPhone would match that of the iPhone 3G … Read more

The iPhone 5 has just started shipping for consumers who already preordered it or are hoping to grab one on Friday, according to a report from AppleInsider.

A UPS delivery update reportedly sent to the Apple blog site lists a shipment sent out yesterday from its home base in Zhengzhou, China. The scheduled delivery date points to this coming Friday, the date the phone is due to hit the shelves of retail stores.

Some buyers fast enough to have placed preorders also learned that their phones are shipping, AppleInsider added. Such buyers were able to track their orders by using … Read more

Apple reportedly now has a third company supplying displays for its new iPhone.

Sharp kicked off mass production of iPhone 5 display panels earlier this week, according to The Wall Street Journal. Citing "a person with knowledge of the situation," the Journal said that the electronics company just started shipping the panels to Apple after a delay of several weeks.

Sharp was struggling to ramp up production of the screens for the new iPhone but fell behind in August, according to Reuters. The company is in the midst of severe financial problems and reportedly had to mortgage several … Read more

Apple could be overhauling at least one of its retail stores to add more space for the Genius Bar and the customers themselves.

The company's Garden State Plaza store in Paramus, N.J., is reportedly the target of the renovations, according to Apple blog site ifoAppleStore. The store itself is moving to a larger space in the shopping mall that will triple its square footage.

Sources told ifoAppleStore that the Paramus store originally occupied a space 30 feet wide but has since outgrown that and has run into problems of overcrowding. The new location will open up room for … Read more

Samsung believes its Galaxy S3 is on its way to more than 30 million in global sales by year's end, according to a report from the Yonhap News Agency.

Samsung's IT and mobile unit chief Shin Jong-kyun announced the forecast to reporters today at the company's offices in Seoul. This tidbit comes on the heels of news that Samsung sold 20 million Galaxy S3 phones in the 100 days since its debut in May.

Shin also touted Samsung's new Galaxy Note 2, which was on display at last month's IFA trade show. Sales of the … Read more