A Tale of Two iPhones: iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s

The weather is getting colder, and you know what that means—time to curl up with a new device and download some library books! (Oh, who am I kidding? It’s always a good time to download library books!) However, with the holidays just around the corner, it’s a good excuse to check out the latest portable offerings from that favorite technology company named after a fruit, Apple. Apple's release of new devices this fall is especially timely, as October is also National Apple Month! Who knew Steve Jobs was able to get that declared years ago?   Should you leave your old iPhone behind to pick a fresh one? Are Apple's new iPhones juicy enough to justify the expense, or are they just seedy? Is each model really different at its core, or did the Apple not fall too far from the tree? (Blame my mom for raising me on a steady diet of bad puns.)   The iPhone 5, released last year, has had two slight facelifts in the forms of the iPhone 5c and 5s, released this fall. The previous iPhone 5 has been discontinued at the ripe old age of one year as technology marches on. Both the 5c and 5s run the new iOS 7, with its simplified icons and different navigation functions compared to previous versions. Looking at the screen feels much brighter, especially to those familiar with the more photorealistic icons of iOS 6 and earlier.   Both iPhones have an impressive resolution of 640 x 1136 pixels on a four-inch screen with 326 ppi, and a video camera capable of recording sharp 1080p HD video. 1 GB of RAM makes running plenty of apps a breeze, so needing to reboot due to low memory (or perhaps running too many instances of Fruit Ninja) may be a thing of the past. That extra RAM also makes playing audiobooks or opening large graphic-intensive eBooks in OverDrive Media Console faster than ever.   The iPhone 5c is really just the iPhone 5 dressed up in a candy-coating of pink, blue, yellow, green, or white polycarbonate. Combined with the new iOS 7 icon design that some have compared to Chiclets, it looks delicious. The polycarbonate shell makes it lighter (and makes it feel slightly cheaper) than its aluminum predecessors. It is indeed cheaper—at $100 less than the 5s, you’ll be able to find it in 16 and 32 GB models. However, since it hasn’t been selling nearly as well as the 5s, that price may drop even more, as some retailers have already reduced the price through gift cards, rebates, and other promotions.   The iPhone 5s is an upgraded version of the iPhone 5, and is available in the exciting tones of silver, gold, and space gray, but it’s far beyond 1950s-era “space age.” Apple's new 64-bit A7 architecture is under the hood (as opposed to the iPhone 5 and 5c’s A6 chip), as is an M7 chip for apps that use motion sensor data. (I could pretend to be into fitness if it gave me an excuse to “test it out”). The 64-bit A7 processor will also be making an appearance in November as Apple utilizes it in the new iPad Mini and iPad Air, which we will look at in an upcoming review.   One of the more impressive upgrades is the camera—and I probably had more fun with the new Slo-Mo option than I should have! Pictures and videos are crisp, clear, and professional-looking. With storage available in 16, 32, or 64 GB, that's a lot of space for eBooks and audiobooks—and endlessly entertaining Slo-Mo video!   The 5s also includes a fingerprint reader, which I’m not about to try, lest I have a run-in with the turkey knife come Thanksgiving and accidentally lock out the iPhone 5s for anyone else who needs to use it. However, security-conscious library users may find peace of mind with this feature, especially if they are tired of typing in passcodes all the time.   Using OverDrive Media Console 3.0 is very enjoyable on both devices—response times are instantaneous, the Retina display makes eBook text look sharp, and audiobooks play back smoothly with no lag. Pictures in eBooks look identical to printed versions with not a noticeable pixel in sight. Additionally, Apple raised their over-the-air download limit to 100MB, allowing for the download of large picture-laden eBooks and audiobooks under that file size, so library lovers don't have to worry when they're away from a Wi-Fi connection.   With all the new content that’s available, it’s going to be a very happy holiday season! And with Apple's new devices being so intuitive, even your Granny Smith might have one on her holiday wish list.

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