This week ushered in the long-awaited next generation of iPhones, delivering not one, but two fresh devices for the masses.  While the iPhone 5c is the least expensive smartphone from Apple, CEO Tim Cook and his team purport the new iPhone 5s is the most “forward-thinking” smartphone the company’s made to date, in large part because of the enhanced security features introduced with a fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication for phone unlocking and iTunes purchases.

But many questions loom over the true cost of the iPhone 5c, currently listed at an accessible $99 with contract.  And even more questions are being raised over the real security potential of the iPhone 5s.  Here Mellisa Tolentino breaks down a realistic view of what you’ll pay for the iPhone 5c, from the device to the data plan, while our Security Editor John Casaretto and myself tap a number of experts on the matter – you can read our findings here and here.

While the iPhones’ launch took the limelight this week, it wasn’t the only big event in town.  Data visualization platform provider Tableau held its annual Customer Conference this week, and theCUBE was there to cover all the angles.  Amongst the show highlights were guest drop ins from famed statistician and ESPN editor Nate Silver, who keys in on the culture behind Big Data trends as being the most important factor.

One culture that fully appreciates the promise of Big Data analytics is America’s football fans, who are now increasingly empowered by Big Data in their understanding of the game and its players.  Nowhere is this more evident than the booming fantasy football sector, where knowledge is power.  Read more here.

For regular recaps on the week’s top stories in tech, sign up for our newsletter here.