Apple will announce the iPad 3 in the first week of March according to All Things D, which has a superb track record when it comes to the timing of Apple events. Apple typically holds these types of events on a Tuesday or Wednesday, making March 6 or 7 likely targets. Apple iPad launches have so far been on Fridays, so possibilities include March 16 and 23.

Sources say the company has chosen the first week in March to debut the successor to the iPad 2 and will do so at one of its trademark special events. The event will be held in San Francisco, presumably at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Apple’s preferred location for big announcements like these. No word yet on a street date for the iPad 3 (assuming that’s what it’s called), though my guess is retail availability will follow roughly the same schedule as that of the iPad 2: available for purchase a week or so after the event.

The iPad 3 is widely expected to have a similar form factor to the currently available iPad 2. The main differences are thought to be on the inside with a faster processor, improved graphics performance and the much sought after Retina display. That would give the iPad 3 a screen resolution of 2048 x 1536 at 9.7-inches.

Features like a quad-core processor and LTE networking have been the subject of conflicting rumors.

Come event day, what are you hoping to see?

Source: All Things D

Following up on the information iMore received yesterday on potential ZFS hooks in iOS 5.1, a reliable source let us know that Apple has been investing heavily in ZFS appliances from Oracle. (Whether or not this will be made public is unknown; it doesn’t seem to be right now.)

Also, several of our readers familiar with ZFS wrote in to speculate as to why Apple may be exploring ZFS for use on iPhone and iPad. Broadly, it may have something to do with ZFS’ snapshot technology. ZFS snapshots can be easily compressed and encrypted, de-duplicated, and can transfer delta (bit differential) updates between cloud and device. The snapshots can also work like Time Machine, easily and efficiently providing incremental backup and restore capability from an hour ago, a day ago, a week ago, or more, asynchronously and block by block. Here’s what Wikipedia says about ZFS snapshots:

An advantage of copy-on-write is that when ZFS writes new data, the blocks containing the old data can be retained, allowing a snapshot version of the file system to be maintained. ZFS snapshots are created very quickly, since all the data composing the snapshot is already stored; they are also space efficient, since any unchanged data is shared among the file system and its snapshots.

Writeable snapshots (“clones”) can also be created, resulting in two independent file systems that share a set of blocks. As changes are made to any of the clone file systems, new data blocks are created to reflect those changes, but any unchanged blocks continue to be shared, no matter how many clones exist. This is an implementation of the Copy-on-write principle.

Snapshots is only one of the features of ZFS (Zettabyte Files System), the advanced file system created by Sun, now owned by Oracle. Apple included a partial port of ZFS in earlier versions of Mac OS X but pulled it before the official release. It’s a file system particularly well suited for cloud environments and storage pools, which might be why Apple is looking at it again in the post iCloud.

Apple is an incredibly private company that works hard behind the scenes in order to present a beautifully packaged, highly polished product to consumers. No doubt there is a lot of really cool, really geeky technology at the core of iCloud, for example, but all most of us see are elegant interface elements in Settings.app that, when tapped, all but transparently backup and restore our iPhones or iPads.

If indeed Apple is planning on using ZFS to make iCloud backups and restores better, it will probably be invisible to end users. One day, iCloud will simply work better, faster, and even more reliably.

More: Wikipedia

Apple may have begun testing what appears to be ZFS (Zettabyte File System) support in the latest iOS 5.1 beta. If the information received by iMore is accurate. references to ZFS, including the mounting tools, are contained deep inside the system files. This raises a lot of questions about where Apple may be taking iOS storage in the future.

If you’re not familiar with ZFS, here’s Wikipedia‘s introduction:

ZFS is a combined file system and logical volume manager designed by Sun Microsystems. The features of ZFS include data integrity verification against data corruption modes, support for high storage capacities, integration of the concepts of filesystem and volume management, snapshots and copy-on-write clones, continuous integrity checking and automatic repair, RAID-Z and native NFSv4 ACLs. ZFS is implemented as open-source software, licensed under the Common Development and Distribution License (CDDL).

In other words, it’s highly scalable and highly resilient, something you want in cloud environments. ZFS support was included in some earlier versions of Mac OS X, but was not included in the final, shipping version. Rumor has it Apple wasn’t pleased when Sun spoke openly about Apple’s adoption of their technology, leading Apple to pull the plug. Whether that’s accurate or whether Apple simply determined it was going to go another way with OS X storage is unknown.

Even without official Apple support, we’ve seen OS X ZFS ports crop up since then. What sets this iOS implementation apart from some of the very original, official, OS X ports of ZFS is that it already contains the ZFS utilities (zpool, zdump, etc). By having the utilities already installed it means that the port is in a more complete stage of development and has full read + write access (unlike the original OS X ports).

So here’s the question again, if this information is accurate, why is Apple looking to include ZFS in iOS? Could it be part of a greater plan to integrate better cloud services into future versions of the iPhone and iPad?

More: Wikipedia

iMore heard a while back that the iPad 3 would be coming March 2012, and several other outlets have heard the same thing. Macotakara is is the latest. However, in their version there was also a “strange” report about a “strange” event, scheduled for February.

I reported that Apple was going to hold Special Event in early February according to Asian supplier and source from united states, but this report told a half-side of truth. Apple will hold “Strange” event at February instead of Special Event.

Jim Dalrymple of The Loop, however, says when something smells “strange”, it usually is.

This is not going to happen, according to my sources. Apple will not hold an event in February, unusual or otherwise. That’s it.

Dalrymple’s sources are typically excellent, so if you were holding hope for a February surprise from Apple, stop holding.

Source: The Loop, Macotakara

Some fresh pictures of a camera-equipped iPod nano have slipped out, indicating that Apple’s music player may be due for an update soon. Apple usually updates the iPod nano every fall, but this year the iPhone 4S hogged the spotlight at Apple’s traditional event. The 2009 iPod nano had a camera, before ditching it for the current form factor in 2010. Aside from the camera, the overall design doesn’t seem to have changed much from the previous generation.

As Georgia aptly points out, the iPod nano isn’t really hurting for a camera; instead, the iPod nano really should start changing into a smartwatch accessory, complete with notifications pushed over Bluetooth, hosting lightweight apps, while still playing music. Motorola and Sony Ericsson have both taken a stab at this idea, but Apple will likely be able to pull this off in a way that really resonates with their fans.

Anybody out there own an iPod nano? Do you ever find it lacking in functions, or does it already do what you need it to? Is a camera really needed?

Source: Apple.pro via MacRumors

The iPad 3 could be coming packed with a quad-core A6 chipset and support LTE speeds according to a source who claims to have access to the unannounced, unreleased device. BGR reports:

From the data in the photos, which contain the output from an iPad 3 using a development and debug tool called iBoot, we can infer plenty of information about the upcoming iPad 3. [...] The new processor will also apparently be a quad-core model, making the upcoming iPad 3 the fastest iOS device ever, we have been told.

The veracity of the data is, of course, uncertain. Previous rumors have claimed that iPad 3 production has started, as well as Foxconn issuing plans to build 5 new iPad production facilities in Brazil.

The A6 chipset noted in the debug tool, if accurate, carries a model number of S5L8945X with the iPad units themselves carrying model numbers of J1 and J2 (iPad 3,1 and iPad 3.2 respectively). This falls in line with what was uncovered in iOS 5.1 beta code. The rumor calls for one model being WiFi-only, and the other adding full support for LTE/CDMA/GSM. This should allow for Apple to release just one SKU across data-equipped iPad units for all major carriers, rather than a special LTE model for the limited markets that currently support it.

As far as rumors of when the iPad 3 might hit the streets, speculation of a March 2012 seem likely with Apple sticking to their historical release cycle, but we won’t know for sure until Apple makes the announcement.

Source: BGR

Facebook, the massive social network that counts one of the most popular iPhone apps of all time in their portfolio, is rumored to be readying a $5 billion IPO (initial public offering). Yes, Zuckerberg and co. might finally be ready to hit the stock market. The New York Times reports:

The Internet giant plans to list a preliminary fund-raising goal of about $5 billion, one of these people said. Another cautioned that any such number was largely a placeholder for determining filing fees, and that the final amount could differ significantly. And the company could still decide to delay its filing.

While huge, it narrowly misses out on being the biggest tech IPO ever — that distinction belongs to Infineon. That is, of course, unless Facebook raises the stakes to $10 billion, then they’ll own all the records. And the money.

Facebook has enjoyed enormous growth but not without growing pains, including and especially in regards to user privacy and transparency. Along with Google and Twitter — the former public, the latter still private — Facebook faces Federal privacy oversight for the foreseeable future.

Still, if Facebook does pull the trigger on this IPO, will that change anything? If any of us could buy stock and become a shareholder, does that make trusting our data to Facebook any easier, or any more difficult?

Source: New York Times

Apple’s largest production partner, Foxconn, has plans to build five new production plants in Brazil to help support the growing demand for the iPad tablet.

Officials from Foxconn and the Brazilian government will reportedly meet following the Chinese New Year to decide on where the factories will be built, but São Paulo is said to be pushing heavily for the investment. [...] In addition to helping supply Apple with iPads, the factories will be tooled for notebook and general electronics production. [...] A Foxconn representative declined to confirm its Brazilian expansion plans to Economia, calling the report “pure speculation.”

This news comes shortly after iPad production in Brazil got a generous tax break from local government following Foxconn reportedly investing up to $300 million in a São Paulo factory. The new production facilities could house up to 1,000 employees each, with officials from Foxconn and the Brazilian government said to be meeting after the Chinese New Year in order to make a final decision on the desired location.

With Apple selling through over 15 million iPads during Q1 2012, increasing production to help meet future demand is a no-brainer. And although Brazilian-made iPads may be a little behind schedule, adding more facilities to the mix can only help the situation in terms of availability.

Source: Folha via AppleInsider

Could Apple have an Siri-powered, OLED equipped iTV television set to debut this April or May? So a source within a “major electronics retailer” would have TechnoBuffalo believe.

Speaking on conditions of anonymity, the source said they’ve seen “gorgeous, very thin” pre-production versions of the set in person, and that they employ OLED panels at various sizes up to 42-inches.

In addition to Siri artificially intelligent, voice controlled assistant, they claim it will sport facial recognition, and be able to use the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad as a fallback controller. But wait, there’s more!

Our source said Apple is exploring the notion of using the set to control other connected devices in the home; think along the lines of ovens that pre-heat while you’re watching TV before dinner, and garage doors that can be closed by voice command while you sit on the couch. No details were given as to whether Apple would consider manufacturing such devices, though given their history, a “Made for iPod” style accessory program would be a natural fit for a TV-based connected home system.

In Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs biography, the late Apple co-founder did claim he’d “cracked” the television interface, and rumors of an Apple television have certainly picked up steam ever since. However, Jobs has also spoken about how difficult a challenge it is to deal with regional cable and satellite monopolies and oligopolies, never mind paranoid, anachronistic Hollywood executive who believe Apple is out to destroy their business, and consumers to steal their content.

The part about “other connected devices” is interesting in so far as Google’s Android at Home might one day compete at doing just that.

With iPad 3 likely to be the star of Apple’s spring schedule, however, it’s hard to see a new product like an iTV television getting jammed in alongside. Still, these kinds of rumors do get us thinking, even as we wait for them to get smashed. Or for a follow up claiming it will be exclusive to Sprint. Or that an iTVS Pro with Retina display will also hit before the end of the year. Whichever comes first…

Source: TechnoBuffalo

Microsoft is planning to bring more Xbox Live gaming to Apple’s iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, as well as Google’s Android platform.

“While the Xbox Live experiences and games always work best on the Windows platform, we understand that some Xbox fans may be using other types of devices. To satisfy that need, we are working to extend a few of our Xbox experiences and titles to other platforms.”

All of Microsoft’s current XBox efforts have done well on iOS and Microsoft isn’t exactly a company to leave to money on the table or avoid recognition, it’s another avenue for both of those things if Microsoft puts the effort into it. No mention was made of when we could expect to see these efforts put into to place but if we had to wager a guess, we’d bet it’s not all that far off.

Given that Microsoft’s Windows Phone is still — as some would say — ‘ramping up’, it only seems logical that Microsoft would target iOS and Android users as well, especially considering the market share Apple and Google have in the mobile space.

Microsoft has already made a small foray on iOS with the release of My XBox Live and Kinectimals, but who knows what could be next. Halo, anyone?

• Source: Forbes

Daring Fireball‘s John Gruber has weighed in on the supposed iPhone 5 leak from earlier today, saying the iPhone 5 has not yet gone into production, and throwing cold water on the idea that the overall form factor will be larger.

Longer and wider? Sounds like bullshit. I can see Apple putting a bigger display on a device of the same size. I can’t see them making a bigger device.

iMore has independently heard that the iPhone 5 may stay on a fall schedule, similar to the iPhone 4S release in October of 2011. That makes a certain amount of sense, given how well Apple’s iPhone 4S sales persisted despite a 15 month window between launches last year. A June/WWDC 2012 launch would be only 9 months between devices, and might not maximize Apple’s earnings potential. However, with Android 4.0 devices expected to hit the market starting in the March quarter, competitive pressure won’t be letting up any time soon.

As to the design, Apple has had multiple prototypes in contention before, including more conservative and more audacious models. If fall 2012 is and remains the target, it’s likely far too early to tell much if anything for certain. However, a similar sized device with as big a screen as Apple can fit into it certainly sounds nice.

Seth Weintraub from 9to5Mac has a source within Foxconn that claims Apple is readying the iPhone 5 — as it’s apparently being called — for production in time for a summer release. The leak also claims:

• 4+ inch display (made by LG on at least one of them)
• No teardrop-shaped devices as were rumored in the lead up to the iPhone 4S. Samples so far have been >- symmetrical in thickness. Also longer/wider.
• None of the sample devices have the iPhone 4/4S form factor
• None of the devices are final versions

Given Apple has already re-used the iPhone 4 form factor for the iPhone 4S, it makes sense they wouldn’t revisit it again for the iPhone 5. Likewise, the oft-rumored teardrop form-factor, while seen in other devices, doesn’t really seem to fit within Apple’s existing iOS device design language.

Again, no word on 4G LTE network connectivity, which while increasingly common in the U.S. still isn’t widespread internationally.

However, since none of these devices were considered the final version, and since Apple can and will make changes well into the production cycle, it’s best to take everything with a 4-inch grain of salt.

We’ll find out for sure when Phil Schiller holds it up on stage. Or someone leaves it in a bar…

Source: 9to5 Mac

According to Adam Lashinsky, author of the upcoming book, Inside Apple, the late Steve Jobs arranged a meeting with Ren Ng, a Stanford graduate and the CEO of the incredible Lytro light-field camera company.

The company’s CEO, Ren Ng, a brilliant computer scientist with a PhD from Stanford, immediately called Jobs, who picked up the phone and quickly said, “if you’re free this afternoon maybe we would could get together.” Ng, who is thirty-two, hurried to Palo Alto, showed Jobs a demo of Lytro’s technology, discussed cameras and product design with him, and, at Jobs’s request, agreed to send him an email outlining three things he’d like Lytro to do with Apple.

Lytro, if you’ve not heard of them, uses radical new imaging technology that involves capturing the entire light field into one single file. Edits can then be made post-production, including refocusing the image or any portion of it.

Given the nature of their technology and how it works, it all seems like something Steve Jobs would have been interested in, especially when you consider the amount of attention Apple gave to how the iPhone 4S camera worked.

According to Walter Isaacson, Steve Jobs had three things he wanted to reinvent – the television, textbooks and photography. We’ve bared witness to the beginning of one of those things at Apple’s education event with the introduction of iBooks 2 and  iBooks Author for Mac OS X. And Apple Television has been rumored for a while now.

One could argue that Steve Jobs and Apple have already changed the photography world with each iteration of the iPhone, as the cameras got better with each new release. The the iPhone 4S has an 8 megapixel camera equipped with a fast f/2.4 lens, and is certainly capable of taking great shots and that photo taking ability has caused some folks to drop their point & shoot cameras and strictly use their iPhone for shots as needed.

Could we see a portion of Lytro’s camera technology in the some iteration of the iPhone and possibly even the iPad? It’s quite possible – but we’ll have to hold on for that. One meeting does not a next-generation iPhone 5 camera make.

• Inside Apple – Amazon link

Source: 9to5Mac

Sony has announced a new 13 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS image sensor, which could one day allow for thinner iPhones that take even higher quality photos and HDR (High Dynamic Range) video.

This image sensor layers the pixel section containing formations of back-illuminated structure pixels onto chips containing the circuit section for signal processing, which is in place of supporting substrates for conventional back-illuminated CMOS image sensors. This structure achieves further enhancement in image quality, superior functionalities and a more compact size that will lead to enhanced camera evolution.

The setup separates the CMOS sensor from the imaging circuits which, along with a bit of optics-magic, results in higher quality images. It also thinner, which means iPhones and iPads, if Apple implements it, could be thinner.

Source: Sony

802.11ac, sometimes referred to as 5G or gigabit Wi-Fi, hasn’t been finalized and Apple seldom if ever speaks ahead of time about the incorporation of new technology into the iPhone, iPad, or Mac lines, but they were aggressive in adopting 802.11n while it was in the draft stages and 802.11ac appears to have even more to recommend it.

The new 802.11ac standard achieves much faster wireless networking speeds than the existing 802.11n specification (in use on the latest Mac, AirPort and iOS devices) by using 2 to 4 times the frequency bandwidth (from 80 to 160MHz), more efficient data transfers through sophisticated modulation, and more antennas (up to 8; existing standards support up to 4, while Apple’s Macs currently use up to 3).

With everything from AirPlay to iTunes Wi-Fi sync to the downloading of content from iTunes Netflix and other online repositories becoming increasingly front and center in iOS, better, faster Wi-Fi will be huge plus. (Especially if when we see the eventual move to 1080p content on the rumored Apple TV 3.

The link below says Apple’s working on 802.11ac, though the article doesn’t say where that assertion comes from. Still — I want it, and hopefully we’ll indeed get it sometime this year if not the next.

Source: AppleInsider

BGR was tipped on a few references to x2 iPad graphics — the kind required for Retina displays — in the new iBooks 2, adding fuel to the iPad 3 rumor fire.

Some of these aren’t new, and were included in the iBooks 1.1 update from last year, but it’s still nice to see that Apple’s getting ready.

Source: BGR, @boygenius

While we’ve been referring to Apple’s next generation iPad as iPad 3, according to 9to5Mac Chinese accessory maker Chinee has gone and gambled on iPad 2S — not only the name, but the form factor as well, producing what might just be the first case for the unannounced, unspecified tablet.

Case producer “Chinee” of China has begun selling cases for a device that it called “iPad 2S.” The name obviously stems from the name iPhone 4S, where the S notes an internal technical specification update rather than a re-design. Based on previous “iPad 3″ rumors, the new tablet will follow that naming convention. The new iPad is rumored to look identical to the iPad 2, but it will be slightly thicker. The seller of these “iPad 2S” cases said its new products fit a design that is 1MM thicker than the iPad 2′s form-factor. The case maker also claimed such design knowledge came from sources within Apple’s supply chain.

Having your accessory ready to go on launch day can make for much higher profits, but if they end up banking on the wrong form-factor — something that happened with iPhone 5 cases last year — it can cost them a bundle.

Even betting on a name on the packaging — iPad 2S in the case — can be a risk. The “S” in Apple iOS device marketing usually used to reduce expectations and push-back when new devices don’t look as significantly updated as their internals suggest, like the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4S.

With a 2048×1536 resolution Retina display boost, would Apple really call their 3rd generation iPad an iPad 2S?

AppleInsider is rumoring that Apple’s education event will include a textbook initiative codenamed “Bliss”, inspired in part by current Apple board member and past Vice President of United States, Al Gore’s Our Choice ebook app.

The person who contacted AppleInsider indicated that Apple’s Internet software chief, Eddy Cue, is responsible for the distribution side of the new e-textbook initiative. But Rosner is said to be in charge of development of the editor used to create digital textbooks, as well as the reading software that will allow students and teachers to view the files. The person said the internal code-name for the project is “Bliss,” and said the software will allow publishers to make textbooks more interactive.

Gore’s “Our Choice” ebook app was built by Push Pop Press, which was subsequently bought out by Facebook. If true, the combination of iTunes/App Store/iCloud head Eddy Cue on the content delivery side, and iWork shepherd Roger Rosner on the content creation and consumption side could be powerful.

We’ll find out tomorrow. In the meantime, check out a video of Our Choice, and then hit the link below for all the details.

Source: AppleInsider

Apple is hosting an event in New York tomorrow, and if the chalkboard logo is any indication,  we’ll be seeing some new content for educators, specifically new interactive textbooks delivered on iPad through a new file format and publishing system curated by Apple. On top of cutting the hassle of lugging around a bunch of print volumes, digital textbooks would be more engaging, and publishers would be able to update their products as necessary.

iPads in the classroom has been a common image in many Apple ads, and more than a couple of schools have bought  in to the idea. Programs like iBooks and iTunes U are already in place to support a new digital textbook standard, but the real question is, will schools be willing to cough up $500/student for iPads? Will Apple be willing to subsidize the cost, just so they can hook ‘em while they’re young?

I guess we’ll find out tomorrow – stick around for our coverage of the event!

Source: Bloomberg

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple’s iWork VP Roger Rosner has been charged to lead Apple’s entry into the digital textbook arena.

According to people familiar with the matter, Mr. Rosner—Apple’s vice president for productivity applications, in charge of its iWork document, spreadsheet and presentation software—is closely involved in developing the new digital-textbook service. Apple last week said it was holding an event in New York City on Thursday for an announcement, which people familiar with the matter have said will be around digital textbooks.

With Apple’s education event happening January 19th, we’ll soon be able to lay to rest all the rumors surrounding what, exactly will be unveiled. It seems, however, that rather then looking to replace textbooks with their digital counterparts right away, Rosner’s team will introduce a new set of tools for publishers to create “iTextbooks”. Apple’s iTunes U podcast section is a critical if not mainstream success, and their iBooks eBookstore and reader already have a small set of textbook publishers participating. If Apple can expand on that existing base with tools to make the transition easier, they could start to get some momentum going.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Japanese news site macotakara claims Apple will hold an iPad 3 launch event in early February. The report cites sources in the U.S. as well as within the Asian supply chain, and note a release will likely take place in early March.

This falls in line with what iMore has heard about Apple is gearing up for a March 2012 release. Since the iPad 3 seems likely to get a Retina display, designers and developers will need to produce 2x graphics (if they haven’t started to already) and the more time they have, the better, especially for gaming companies.

Source: Macotakara

According to a report by Ars Technica, Apple is going to announce a GarageBand type tool to aid in the creation of e-books at its New York education event this Thursday. The new tools will assist in the creation of interactive e-books especially in the education sector.

At the same time, however, authoring standards-compliant e-books (despite some promises to the contrary) is not as simple as running a Word document of a manuscript through a filter. The current state of software tools continues to frustrate authors and publishers alike, with several authors telling Ars that they wish Apple or some other vendor would make a simple app that makes the process as easy as creating a song in GarageBand. Our sources say Apple will announce such a tool on Thursday.

Source: Ars Technica

Deep within iOS 5.1 beta 3 are mentions to two next-generation iPad 3 code names, J1AP and J2AP, as well as ongoing references to Facebook. While digging through firmware code is not a sure fire way of finding out exactly Apple is up to — it has in the past yielded some results. In this case, they seem in line with a previous account from Digitimes on iPad 3 code names J1 and J2. These likely, though not definitely, refer to the Wi-Fi and cellular data versions of iPad 3.

Another tidbit of information found within the firmware is that Facebook is again being mentioned. As we know it, iOS 4 was set to have Facebook integration but it was subsequently dropped from the OS when an agreement couldn’t be reached between the two companies. Could there be more integration with Facebook coming or is this simply legacy code left around, just in case?

Alas, we’ll just have to wait and see what Apple has in store for us with iOS 6 but if any of what we’re seeing in the iOS 5.1 beta 3 code turns out to be accurate then, we’re pretty glad folks still keep checking in there for things Apple may have missed. Jump on past the break, and you can see where the J1AP and J2AP are showing up.

UPDATE: Some iPod touch goodness added for your enjoyment, below.

Source: @jackoplane

Bloomberg is reporting that Apple has begun production of the iPad 3 for an expected March 2012 release.

[iPad 3] will sport a high-definition screen, run a faster processor and work with next-generation wireless networks, according to three people familiar with the product. [..] The tablet will use a quad-core chip, an enhancement that lets users jump more quickly between applications, two of the people said.

The March date is spot on, and the 2042×1536 Retina display screen is an easy bet at this point. Apple could go quad-core with the A6 chipset as competing tablets have recently done, but Apple’s integrated hardware/software approach has thus far let them do more with less.

LTE still feels like a wildcard to me. While Verizon has better deployment and AT&T is starting to ramp up, Sprint and T-Mobile are behind and international carriers are hit and miss (and just like 3G GSM, frequencies are not always compatible).

The Retina display and A6 alone will make for a compelling upgrade, but for those in LTE areas, it could make it a no brainer.

Source: Bloomberg

Apple has apparently sent a few high-level employees to CES to scout out the competition and see how other companies present future products.

Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) famously avoids the biggest event on the tech industry calendar, and given the traffic on Paradise Road this morning you can’t exactly blame them. But that doesn’t mean Apple isn’t scouting the competition in person at CES 2012.

A reporter from PaidContent says he ran into Greg Joswiak, head of iOS product marketing for Apple, who answered a few questions as to why he was there. Apple is interested in learning more about presentation techniques from competitors, including the layout, aesthetics and which products are at the forefront.

Source: Paid Content

According to japanese news site macotakara, Apple has issued build orders to Foxconn and Pegatron for the iPad 3, which is expected to hit in March.

This first lot production implements LCD’s, which are produced by Sharp Electronics Corporation, and aims to be shipped at early March, source told.

It has been rumored that Sharp will produce the new IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide) iPad 3 panels, with a purported Retina display resolution of 2048×1536.

If Apple intends to stay on their spring release schedule, it makes a lot of sense for them to be getting orders in place now.

Source: macotakara

Randomly accurate rumor site Digitimes suggests that, according to industry sources out of Taiwan, Apple will release a Retina display iPad 3 in March, then turn around and ship a more significant iPad 4 in October.

The 9.7-inch iPad 4 is expected to come with much upgraded hardware specifications and integrated applications so as to compete with an array of Android-, Wintel- or WoA (Windows on ARM)-based tablet PCs to be released in the fourth quarter, said the sources.

They also reaffirm the rumor that Apple will keep the iPad 2 on sale at a lower $399 price.

This is an almost identical rumor to one that made the rounds last year, with numerous sources — including iMore — hearing that Apple was at least toying with the idea of releasing iPad 3 in October of 2011. Whether those rumors were ultimate inaccurate, or display constraints required Apple change plans and revert to a spring 2012 release is unknown.

Likewise, whether or not there’s any substance to these rumor rehashes, or an attempt to suppress iPad 3 sales with early chatter of an iPad 4 is impossible to say at this point. It does seem unlikely that Apple would release two iPads in the same retail year, given the enormous success of their current strategy.

Source: Digitimes

Mark Gurman over at 9to5 Mac has discovered some code buried deep within the iOS 5.1 beta which might suggest Apple is prepping a quad-core chip to power future iPhone and iPad devices.

The references to quad-core iPhone and iPad chips come by way of a hidden panel that describes cores that are supported by iOS device hardware. The updated core management software includes an option of “/cores/core.3,” and this represents a fourth available processing core…

Gurman explains that people who work closely with iOS code advised the core count begins at 0, so a dual-core processor would be labeled as core.1 for its second core, and as such, a quad-core processor would carry a core.3 label for its fourth core.

Whether we’ll see this in the Apple A6 chipset — which is expected to power the iPad 3 and next-gen iPhone — is another story. Although Apple doesn’t like to tout specs as a selling point, they need great hardware to drive great software.

Source: 9to5Mac

Jeremy Horwitz from iLounge has posted rumors about the iPad 3 and what his sources say we should expect.

Some of the changes included were upgraded front and rear cameras with HD FaceTime on the front and an 8MP sensor on the rear. His sources believe the rear camera may in fact be the same as the iPhone 4S.

Horwitz, who has had good information in the past, also dispels rumors of the next iPad hitting in January or February, and instead suggested it will follow the same March/April release cycle the iPad has been on since it debuted in 2010, and that the iPad 2 will stick around at an entry-level price of $399.

Source: iLounge via @horwitz

Clayton Morris has chimed in on the January media event and what Apple may have in store for us.

• This event will focus on iTunes University and Apple in education
• This initiative has been in the making for years.
• The announcement will be small in size but large in scope: a big announcement in a demure space.
• I expect at least two large project announcements as they relate to Apple in education.
• Steve Jobs was intimately involved with this project before his passing. He gave a hat tip to the textbook side of this project in the Isaacson biography.
• This will not be a hardware-related announcement.

It was previously speculated that Apple may be holding a special iBooks-related event, which could definitely hold true in respect to textbooks as Morris has outlined. Check out his whole post via the link below.

Source: Clayton Morris

Hit or miss rumor site Digitimes has reported that Apple may plan on introducing a low-end iPad 2 with a starting price of around $299 after the next-generation iPad hits the market.

Sources from Apple’s supply chain have claimed that there will be two versions of the new iPad, one targeting the high-end segment and the other the mid-range. Digitimes Research believe the two new iPad models will both be equipped the A6 processor with high-end model coming with a high resolution panel (2048×1536) and the mid-tier model featuring the same grade of panel as iPad 2 (1024×768).

Digitimes can be as accurate as your average coin toss, but with the Kindle Fire and other, lower-end tablets now on the market, Apple could consider doing what they’ve done with the iPhone for years — keeping the previous year’s model around at a reduced price to choke the air out of the budget players. iPhones come with steep carrier subsidies, however, and there’s no telling if Apple could — or would be willing to — make even a previous year’s iPad at a low enough cost to both match Kindle-style competitors and still keep Apple’s margins where they need to be.

A reduced price iPad 2-style device does make more sense than the 7-inch iPad Digitimes has also been peddling lately.

Source: Digitimes

Adding support to an earlier rumor concerning a January Apple event, Alexia Tsotsis of TechCrunch claims it’s indeed happening and will focus on iBooks and publishing.

The event will unveil improvements to the iBooks platform, according to the same source, and is not “major.”

So yeah, no iPad 3 or Apple Television but perhaps something to make Apple’s ebooks offering more competitive with Amazon’s industry leading Kindle platform?

Source: TechCrunch

Randomly accurate rumor site Digitimes is reporting from “industry sources” that Apple plans to utilize Sharp’s IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide) technology in the iPad 3, which has been rumored to come packed with a 2048×1536 Retina display.

Speculation that LG and Samsung, expected producers of the Retina display panels for the next iPad, had run into production issues could indicate why Apple has turned to Sharp, or at least added Sharp to the mix. Panel supply constraint has been a challenge for Apple since the launch of the original iPad in 2010.

Source: Digitimes

Hit-or-miss rumor site Digitimes is reporting that Apple plans on doubling the size of the battery in the the iPad 3, and moreover, that Apple will release it as soon as next month.

The battery capacity for the high-end version of Apple’s new iPad – due to be unveiled in January 2012 – will be increased to 14,000mAH compared to 6,500mAH used currently, according to industry sources.

As always, take these rumors with a Macworld|iWorld expo sized grain of salt. Digitimes‘ “sources” also mentioned that Apple will debut two separate models of the iPad, one for the high-end market and the other filling in the mid-range segment. While 7-inch iPad persist, keeping the iPad 2 around the way the previous year’s iPhone is usually kept around could be another alternative.

As to a January launch, that feels more like a rumor designed to hurt current iPad sales than anything fitting Apple’s previous release patterns. Curious how those keep popping up, isn’t it?

UPDATE: Jim Dalrymple from The Loop, whose sources are excellent, says there’s nothing to see here. No iPad 3 at Macworld or CES, and no Apple Televisions either. [The Loop]

Source: Digitimes

Hit-or-miss rumor site Digitimes has additional speculation from “industry sources” that Apple may be looking to Foxconn to assemble orders of their upcoming Siri-powered Apple Television.

Following sources’ claims that Samsung Electronics and Sharp will manufacture chips and displays, respectively, for the so-called Apple “iTV,” others have suggested that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) and Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL) have the potential to win orders for Apple’s smart TV.

The “sources” also added to conjecture that Apple is planning to release the Apple Television in late 2012, which may debut in 32 and 37-inch form.

Source: Digitimes

BRG claims that sources close to Apple are telling them that the next iPhone will be released in the fall of 2012, bringing in a completely new design with an all-aluminium back.

We have also learned that Apple is planning to use a rubber or plastic material — similar to the material used in the company’s bumper cases — that will be built into the new iPhone case. In all likelihood, this material will be used as a bezel surrounding the front edge of the phone (like the iPhone 3GS bezel) and it will serve two purposes. First, it will join the glass iPhone face with a new aluminum back plate. It will also cover a redesigned antenna system that surrounds the device, allowing Apple to build the rear case out of aluminum without having to use a large plastic insert above the antennas as the company does on its iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G.

While BGR has had solid Apple information in the past, they’ve recently been far more miss than hit, especially where new iPhone models and releases have been concerned. However, it does make sense for Apple to stick to a new fall release cycle for the iPhone given the iPhone 4S release changeover earlier this year, and the need for a strong, fall, hero device now that iPod has declined.

Source: BGR

Randomly accurate rumor site, Digitimes has word from “industry sources” that suppliers are starting to build materials for 32 and 37-inch Apple Televisions for release in the second or third quarter of 2012.

Instead of a form of set-top box (STB) like the Apple TV launched in 2006, Apple’s new products will be full TV sets, the sources added [...] The displays of the new iTV sets will focus on 32 and 37-inch sizes initially, noted sources in the supply chain.

Steve Jobs mentioned in his official biography that he’d finally “cracked” the television, and we’ve heard rumors that Apple was recently in talks with media executives about a television set product. However, Apple is no doubt working on a lot of new products in the lab, so keep this filed this in your “expect it when you see it” folder for now.

Source: Digitimes

Take this one with a 9.7-inch grain of salt, but Focus Taiwan is reporting that current Asian supply chains suggest that Apple might be trying to get the iPad 3 out on February 24th, Steve Jobs‘s birthday.

After the iPhone 4S successfully took the tech market by storm, the iPad3 is widely expected to be Apple’s first hit product to be released next year. Industry sources said the first shipment of the iPad3 could exceed 4 million units. Because it is a new gadget, it is taking time for makers in the supply chain to raise their yield rates. The sources said all OEM and ODM makers have exercised great caution in ensuring the smooth operations of their production lines.

A late February launch would likely mean an early February event to show off the new hardware (and new 5.1 or 5.2 version of iOS to go with it?). If you aren’t as skeptical as we are on this one, you probably should be. Supply chain rumors are often more miss than hit, and you’ll probably have just as much luck pegging the iPad 3 release date by flipping a coin.

Source: Focus Taiwan via 9to5Mac

TmoNews is reporting that some unlocked iPhone users may be picking up T-Mobile’s 3G network in small areas of the Pacific Northwest — specifically limited pockets in Nevada, Utah and California — due to spectrum reallocation under the 1900MHz band.

Most unlocked iPhone users are relegated to 2G due to most of the T-Mobile 3G network running on the AWS spectrum of 1700MHz/2100MHz. We’re not exactly sure what they’re reallocating the spectrum for, however, multiple reports have surfaced from Howard Forums detailing a jump in speeds and, more specifically, the 3G network indicator popping up in the statusbar on their unlocked iPhone.

It’s possible that T-Mobile could be testing spectrum allocation for new devices or simply to expand their network range for existing devices that already support the 1900MHz band, but again, there’s no concrete evidence on what precisely they’re up to. If you’re lucky enough, however, you may be able to hop onto their 3G network depending on the area you’re in.

Source: TmoNews via Howard Forums 1, Howard Forums 2

Rumors of an Apple Television just won’t quit, and this new one from The Wall Street Journal pegs Apple ramping up for a release in the not-so-distant future with features like Siri voice-control, built-in AirPlay streaming and more.

Apple executives have discussed their vision for the future of TV with media executives at several large companies, according to people familiar with the matter. [...] In the recent meetings with media companies, the Apple executives, including Senior Vice President Eddy Cue, have outlined new ways Apple’s technology could recognize users across phones, tablets and TVs, people familiar with the talks said. In at least one meeting, Apple described future television technology that would respond to users’ voices and movements

Details remain extremely vague, of course, with specifics being left off the table to help keep the essence of the future product closely guarded.

Before Steve Jobs passed away in October, he told biography Walter Isaacson that he’d “finally cracked the TV”. From user interface and experience to ditching the mountain of controls many of us now deal with, tons of speculation has followed. Some suggest an Apple Television will bring about new ways of communicating across multiple devices like the iPhone or iPad, where a users’ content can be switched from the television and onto their mobile device for consumption on-the-go. Imagine watching a movie in your living room and deciding you want to take a quick run, but having limited time. With something like an Apple Television using new technology developed internally at Cupertino, you could watch the rest of your movie on-the-go without any hassle; with everything working seamlessly and with very little setup involved.

With Siri voice control, the possibilites of what a future product like this could do seem almost endless.

Source: WSJ

According to the NYT, Apple is rumored to be testing wearable iPod-like devices that fit around your wrist and are controlled not by touch, but with your voice using Siri.

Apple has also experimented with prototype products that could relay information back to the iPhone. These conceptual products could also display information on other Apple devices, like an iPod, which Apple is already encouraging us to wear on our wrists by selling Nanos with watch faces. [...] One idea being discussed is a curved-glass iPod that would wrap around the wrist; people could communicate with the device using Siri, the company’s artificial intelligence software.

Apple previously experimented with a nearly buttonless, voice controlled iPod shuffle but quickly returned to physical controls for the tiny device. Siri, which unlike the older VoiceControl system, currently requires a network connection to properly parse voice queries. Since no iPod other than the iPod touch currently has Wi-Fi, let alone cellular data, that raises the same interesting questions about the future of Siri and the iPod line both.

We’ve been asking for an iPod nano watch with Bluetooth connectivity for a while now. Perhaps the iPod will work as a tethered link to your iPhone?

Although it may be some time down the road before we actually start to see something like this materialize in Apple’s product lines, it’s still good to know they’re considering ideas like this.

Source: NYTimes Bits

Concept image credit: Yanko Design

CydiaBlog has stumbled upon a supposedly leaked component from Chinese parts retailer TVC-Mall for the upcoming iPad 3, detailing a replacement microphone flex cable with a different design from the iPad 2.

The new part, when compared with iPad 2, shows a different arrangement in internal circuitry, hinting a major re-design. The tail end of the part makes a “U-turn”, whereas the iPad 2′s Microphone Mic Flex Cable makes almost 90-degree turn both ways. Except for few details, the leaked part so far doesn’t offer a tantalizing tease.

Component leaks aren’t uncommon in the run-up to new Apple product releases, but as always, take this with a 9.7-inch grain of salt, as a lot of those purported parts for next-generation iOS devices don’t always mean what they suggest.

It’s also been rumored that the next iPad will come packed with a full Retina display. Given the chances of these new parts entailing an all-new design are about as accurate as flipping a coin, we’ll just have to wait until Apple actually announces the thing.

Source: TVC-Mall via CydiaBlog

Randomly accurate rumor site Digitimes thinks Apple will be releasing a 7.85-inch iPad sometime around Q4 2012 to help compete with the Amazon Kindle Fire.

Apple is likely to launch a 7.85-inch iPad prior to the fourth quarter of 2012 in addition to a new iPad scheduled to be released at the end of the first quarter, according to sources in the supply chain.

We previously heard rumors of Apple planning the release of a 7-inch iPad by Christmas of 2010, and obviously that never happened. With the Kindle Fire gaining in popularity, however, this new rumor suggest Apple may be inclined to jump into the mini-tablet game to maintain a strong foothold in the tablet market. This rumor also backs up previous speculation of Apple prepping manufacturers for a 7.85-inch iPad for a 2012 release.

Then again, Apple never bothered competing with netbooks, so their not adverse to staying away from low-margin products, and saying the Kindle’s size is the key to it’s success seems rather superficial. Neither the Galaxy Tab nor PlayBook — both 7-inches — sold at anything approaching high volume.

Source: Digitimes

Randomly accurate rumor site Digitimes is reporting that Apple may have some MacBook Pro’s launching with 2880 x 1800 resolution Retina displays in Q2 2012.

While anything from Digitimes needs to be taken with a MacBook sized grain of salt, Apple has been slowly building towards higher resolution displays for a long time, so this isn’t exactly earth-shattering rumor stuff here.

No mention as to which models will receive the upgrade or whether or not they’ll beat the oft-rumored iPad 3 Retina display to market.

Source: Digitimes

Randomly accurate rumor site Digitimes claims word from supply chain sources that Apple is on track to release the iPad 3 within the next 3-4 months.

The next generation iPads are expected to be available in the next 3-4 months as makers in the supply chain have started delivering parts and components for the new tablets to OEM contractors while reducing those prepared for iPad 2, according to sources in the supply chain.

This comes as no surprise to TiPb, as the original iPad first hit the streets in April of 2010, with the iPad 2 following up in March of this year. News that component makers in the supply chain are on target for a March/April release means that Apple isn’t running into any manufacturing issues as previously speculated.

The next iPad is also rumored to sport a 2048×1536 Retina display with around 300 ppi, handily beating out the 1024×768 resolution of the current iPad 2.

Source: Digitimes

Take this one with a 9.7-inch grain of salt, but according to Citi analyst Richard Gardner, Apple has overcome all technical hurdles and will be releasing the iPad 3 in February sporting a full 2048×1536 Retina display.

According to “several sources” the next iPad will launch in February, and it will sport a screen with double the resolution of the current model. Gardner says, “there do not appear to be any significant technical hurdles remaining” to prevent a launch of a high-resolution iPad, despite rumors to the contrary.

TiPb previously heard Apple had considered moving iPad 3 up to a fall 2011 release but due to scale issues with the Retina display had moved it back to a spring 2012 slot.

Bearing in mind analysts are often only as reliable as flipping a coin, this shouldn’t dissuade anyone who wants a current generation iPad 2 for the holidays from getting an iPad 2 for the holidays. If you can hold out, however, the original iPad was released in April 2010, and the iPad 2 hit in March of this year, so the cycle could well continue. (Or Apple could move iPad 3 to the June slot, keeping iPhone in its new fall position — there’s simply no way to know until Apple makes the announcement.)

Source: BusinessInsider

According to iPhoneiTalia, Facebook is working on an update to its Messenger app that will deliver Facebook video calls across multiple platforms. Facebook currently offers a video calling service between users on desktop web browsers using its agreement with Skype. According to sources, the update to the Facebook messenger app is already being tested in the wild and should be revealed in the not too distant future.

This update appears to be a natural progression for the Facebook Messenger app. The idea of being able to video chat with another Facebook user on an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch would be extremely appealing to many. The app should be compatible with any iOS device with a front facing camera. We will let you know as soon as we hear any more information!

Source: iPhoneItalia via Cult of Mac

According to OregonLive, Apple is considering another large data center, this one at Prineville site in Oregon.

Those familiar with the discussions say that Apple’s Oregon plans have been in flux while it awaited word on whether there would be adequate electricity transmission in Prineville to meet its needs.

Whether or not Apple settles on the site, and whether it ends up being on the scale of the multi-billion dollar North Carolina facility are unknown. With iCloud and online services like Siri becoming increasingly important to Apple long term strategy, it does make sense they’re looking to expand and add both capacity and redundancy to the services.

Source: OregonLive

No idea how many Bothan spies died bringing him this information, but Mark Gurman of 9to5Mac managed to get his hands on Apple’s guidelines for Apple Store employees covering codes of conduct for social networks like Facebook and Twitter, personal websites, and inter-personal communications.

Short version: Be honest, respectful, confidential, think of the community, and stay in compliance. Apple places a huge value on their brand and their reputation and they expect employees to enhance, not besmirch it.

Long version: Hit the link below.

Source: 9to5Mac

Facebook is apparently, buying Gowalla. If you preferred Facebook Places, you’re probably already using it. If you preferred Gowalla, well, looks like you’ll soon be out of luck.

Most of Gowalla’s employees, including founder Josh Williams, will move to Facebook’s offices in Palo Alto. The team will work on Facebook’s Timeline feature, which launched at this year’s F8 conference and is gradually rolling out to Facebook’s 800 million members.

If this pans out, best guess is the Gowalla iPhone and iPad apps aren’t long for this world. They were the only check-in apps I used, and then only when I travelled to conventions. Rather than switching to Facebook or Foursquare, I’ll probably just check out of check-in.

Source: CNN

Nikkei Business is reporting that the iPad 3 and iPhone 5 are both on their way with LTE 4G radios, set to debut on Japan’s NTT DoCoMo in summer and fall of 2012 respectively. Yes, we already suspect an iPad 3 and iPhone 5 are coming next year, and yes we already suspect they’ll both have LTE options on networks that support it, but it’s still nice to see the usual rumors popping up along the way.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is said to have met with NTT DoCoMo president Kiyoyuki Tsujimura and VP Takashi Yamada earlier this month to work out the details of the arrangement, and the companies have reportedly reached agreeable terms.

As to the timing, summer and fall Japanese launches don’t preclude spring and summer U.S. releases, but as we saw with the iPhone 4S this year, Apple isn’t afraid to move the timing around. Could iPad 3 take over the old iPhone WWDC spot in June 2012? We’ll have to wait and see…

• iPhone 5 Forum
• iPad 3 Forum

Source: Nikkei Business via BGR

With typical cat-like speed and agility, rumor has it Microsoft’s Office team might finally be ready to pounce on something iOS — namely the iPad. Quoth The Daily:

According to sources, the tech giant is actively working on adapting its popular software suite for Apple’s tablet. [...] It’s assumed that both of these would work with Office 365 as well as mobile versions, such as Windows Phone’s Office Hub. Because it would be compatible with these full suites rather than as stand-alone apps, the pricing will most likely be significantly lower than existing Office products. In fact, it’s likely the cost will be around the $10 price point that Apple has established for its Pages, Numbers and Keynote products.

No word yet on timeline. Would Microsoft really launch Office for iPad before giving Windows 8 Metro slates a chance to compete using Office exclusivity as a draw? Maybe. They did license away ActiveSync after all.

Source: The Daily

Just in case you weren’t already getting tired of 4-inch display rumors for the iPhone 5 (or whatever Apple decides to call the 2012 iPhone), here’s Macotara:

According to Asian source, Hitachi Displays, Ltd. and Sony Mobile Display Corporation started to ship 4-inch LCD for new iOS device and LCD for iPad 3. These 2 companies will be merged their business with Toshiba Mobile Display Co., Ltd., as “Japan Display” in 2012 spring.

If Apple does indeed go from the current 3.5-inch screens to a larger 4-inch screen size, in order to prevent fragmentation of their development ecosystem, they’d have to keep the same 940×640 resolution. That would reduce the pixel density, which would get the internet up in arms over “Retina display” labels. However, retina display is a function of both density and distance, so a) the density could remain good enough for Apple to stick with the marketing term, or b) the distance a slightly larger device is held at could render the practical result the same (see the iPad for an example of how far a 9.7-inch display can be comfortably held).

Again, the only other alternative is to box old apps, the way iPhone apps are boxed on the iPad, which would maintain compatibility with old apps, but would still fragment new apps — larger resolutions wouldn’t play nicely on older devices.

Along with LTE radios, however, larger screens are one of the few hardware features Apple competitors use as differentiators. We’ve heard plenty of LTE iPhone rumors, so it’s no wonder the 4-inch rumors are hot on their heels.

Macotara also said a new display technology was in the works for iPad 4.

Source: Macotara

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Apple will add Sharp to its list of LCD panel manufacturers, specifically for the next generation iPad. The information comes from people familiar with the situation. Apple is apparently looking to diversify component suppliers for its products and as Sharp is already manufacturing LCD panels for the iPhone; it makes sense for Apple to add it to the supply chain for the iPad too.

Sharp’s Kameyama No.2 plant in Japan will be used to manufacture the panels. It is also believed that Apple is investing in Sharp’s Japanese manufacturing facilities to ensure preferential treatment when it comes to component availability and pricing.

The iPad 3 has long been rumored to have the much coveted “Retina” display. Apple would need to be able to source large quantities of high quality panels with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 for this to become a reality. This could be the deal that paves the way for it to happen early next year!

Source: WSJ

While you might have though the holiday season was upon us, it’s actually the start of Apple Television rumor silly season, with the always entertaining analysts not only speculating up a start to Apple’s production, but a mad rush by competitors into the arms of Android. We kid you not.

Jefferies analyst Peter Misek said in a note to investors this week that Apple is expected to partner with Sharp for TFT-LCD panels for its so-called “iTV.” Production is expected to begin in February at the company’s Gen 10 Sakai facility in Osaka, Japan, placing the television set in position for a mid-2012 launch.

TV makers are said to be looking at Android as a potential option to counter Apple’s anticipated television set. In that scenario, the television market would act much like the current smartphone landscape, with manufacturers making the hardware and Google providing the operating system.

Misek used words like “scrambling” and “caught flat footed”, which is what happened with the iPhone and iPad and while phones have just now caught up, tablets are still struggling to find competitive footing.

So, it makes sense to now rush to compete with an unannounced product, right? How about just making good products, Apple be damned? Make a great television whether or not Apple enters the market.

Everything is going to be smart one day, not just tablets and phones. Let’s see who gets there — and where — first.

Source: AppleInsider

Randomly accurate rumor site Digitimes claims Apple, attempting to solve the challenge of backlighting a 2048×1536 Retina display for the next generation iPad 3, has panel suppliers working on two prototypes — J1 and J2.

Apple is currently giving two tablet PC projects codenamed J1 and J2 to its upstream partners for development. The sources revealed that the major differences of the new tablet PCs compared to the previous model are their size, specifications and technologies.

Since the new tablet PCs have a higher resolution, Apple has demanded the design of the light source to be changed from a single LED light bar to two LED light bars on the left and right sides of the machine, but since the method of adopting two LED light bars has created difficulty in shrinking the machine’s thickness, some vendors have come out with designs that only adopt one light bar, but are packing two LED chips into one package.

9to5Mac has found references to a J2 codename in iOS 5 strings, along with another, currently unknown device reference — T39. (Start your Apple TV 3 or Apple television rumors…)

Apple has worked on multiple contending prototypes in the past, so regardless of the details, this is what we’d expect to see from Apple in the months leading up to a new device launch such as iPad 3 this spring.

Source: Digitimes, 9to5Mac

Some major retailers seem to be selling the Apple TV 2 at a discount, leading 9to5Mac and TechCrunch to speculate a new model may be incoming and soon.

It’s also being tagged as the 2010 Apple TV, leading to further speculation a 2011 model is nigh, though I think the Apple TV 2 has been referred to as Apple TV (2010) almost from launch to differentiate it from the original, non-iOS model.

If there is a new Apple TV in the works, here’s hoping it gets an Apple A5 chipset for easy 1080p handling. (And no, there’s no expectation of Siri so let’s not anyone start going pre-emptively nuts, okay?)

Either way, if you want a cheap(er) gift for the holidays, head on over and grab an $89 Apple TV 2 on Amazon while you can.

Source: 9to5Mac, TechCrunch

Despite case-leaks to the contrary, TiPb heard fairly consistently that we we shouldn’t expect a redesigned iPhone this year, and it turns out we heard right. Business Insider, however, is saying that there was a redesigned iPhone on tap but Apple pulled the plug months before.

Steve Jobs was unhappy with the bigger screen because it “fragmented” iPhones, Apple’s big argument against Android is the way all the different phones from different manufacturers fragment that operating system.

Which is odd, because screen size doesn’t “fragment” phones, iPhone or Android. It’s screen resolution that does that. A 3.5-inch iPhone at 960×640 pixels is pretty much the same to develop for as a 4-inch iPhone at 960×640. It’s only if that 4-inch iPhone jumps to something like 1280×720 that developers have a problem.

Apple has several prototypes per generation and I’d be shocked if they hadn’t and aren’t still testing devices with different screen sizes. If Apple does ever choose to pull the trigger on a bigger iPhone screen, they’ll no doubt have a plan for it, whether it’s slightly reducing the density or boxing the content (like iPad does with iPhone apps) to maintain the pixel count.

Even if Apple stays with 3.5-inches, believing it to be ideal for single-handed ease of use, they can’t change the resolution arbitrarily without causing massive issues with pixels falling off the grid.

BI‘s source goes on to say this iPhone prototype had an aluminum back, like the iPad, would eventually use liquid metal in “nano-chromatic” colors, and had a wide, capacitive Home button.

Source: Business Insider

Apple is planning to change its backlight design for the next generation iPad, according to technology news source Digitimes. Vendors have told Digitimes that Apple has been offered two alternative backlight solutions.

With the next-generation iPads expected to adopt LCD panels with resolutions higher than 2048 by 1536, the current single LED light bar designed for the iPad 2 has to be modified in order to maintain or strengthen the brightness of the panels, the sources explained.

Source: Digitimes

Randomly accurate rumor site Digitimes has pair of stories up saying that Apple may be looking to re-design the iPad, iPhone, MacBook Air, and imac next year. This according to “upstream supply chain” sources.

Apple has asked makers in the supply chain to develop flat panel modules and LED light bars for two iPad prototypes, codenamed J1 and J2, the sources revealed.

Stranger still:

Apple’s new generation iPad will enter mass production soon with the launch set for March 2012, according to sources from the upstream supply chain; however, the sources revealed that internally Apple does not view the new iPad product as iPad 3, but rather an upgraded iPad 2 and the real iPad 3 will not be launched until the third quarter of 2012 at the earliest.

iPad 3 likely will ship when Apple can make Retina display panels cheaply enough, at high enough yield rates, to make sense.

Source: Digitimes, x2

Apple already has a Hulu Plus app up and running on Apple TV but may be delaying its launch due to concerns it will compete with iTunes TV Show sales, according to 9to5Mac. Their sources claim the Hulu Plus for Apple TV is now feature complete and ready for release, and has supposedly been ready for release for over a month. The reason for the hold is thought to be political and not related to any technical issues.

While Apple TV 2 has had Netflix since launch, their content is mainly older, catalog shows, not the new releases that are more profitable for iTunes.

Hulu Plus is already available on iOS, and in HD on a few other set top boxes such as the Roku and the Western Digital TV Live. It would make so much sense to have it available on the Apple TV too.

Source: 9to5Mac

MacRumors and Heylookitsseric are both claiming Apple will be updating their Apple Store app to allow customers self-service checkout for off-the-shelf items like iPhone and iPad cases at Apple Retail.

Apple is also updating its own Apple store app on iPhone/iPod to incorporate EasyPay that allows customers to check themselves out for accessories purchases. EasyPay is the same platform Apple employees use to complete those in-store credit card purchases. Since higher priced Apple products are all stocked up in the backroom, you’ll still have to find the help of an employee. Expect the update in a few days on November 3rd, just in time for the holidays.

Hopefully Apple and their customers are both nerdier and more competent than those at my local grocery store or turn self-serve into an ordeal far beyond any staff-driven transaction. “Beep. Put the item down.” “I did.” Beep.Put the item down.” “I DID!” “BEEP! Y U NO PUT ITEM DOWN!” “HULK SMASH PUNY MACHINE!” And, well, we all know how that ends.

IN addition to in-store pick up of online orders, which Apple has also begun experimenting with in San Francisco, they’re also reportedly looking into shipping to multiple address on Apple Online to make gift-giving easier than ever.

In this day and age, when other online retailers like Future Shop make it so onerous and restrictive you don’t even want to order from them anymore, it’s nice to see Apple trying to offer more, not less, and shift the transactional burden off the customer where it never belonged.

Let’s hope it works out for everyone because either way we’re in for an interesting Black Friday and holiday shopping season.

Source: MacRumors, Heylookitseric

According to “sources familiar with the future of Mac OS X”, AirPlay Mirroring and iMessage are both set to make an appearance in the not too distant future. The sources, talking to 9to5Mac claim that both of these applications are in development although they could be shelved just as easily.

AirPlay Mirroring would certainly be a welcome addition to the Mac OS X platform, allowing a user to mirror the screen of their Mac without the need for an expensive projector. You could see Apple TV’s popping up in company boardrooms attached to smaller LCD panels.

iMessage may be introduced into the current iChat application after references were discovered in its code. No firm decision has been made yet and it may even end up as a standalone application. According to the source, both solutions are being developed. iMessage would allow a Mac user to message any iOS device for free.

It makes a lot of sense for Apple to offer these features on the Mac OS X platform, it now looks like it is going to happen in a future update.

Source: 9to5Mac

CNet reports that LG and Samsung may be met with production issues for Apple’s rumored iPad 3 Retina Display.

They have production plans for 2,048×1,536 displays. Starting in November. But those are only plans at this point,” said the source, referring to LG and Samsung. “It’s not a question of making just one. That, of course, can be done. The challenge is making lots of them,” the source said. “This is a quantum leap in pixel density. This hasn’t been done before.”

They refer to interim plans for a 1600×1200 resolution display, but given huge problems that would mean for developers, it seems unlikely.

TiPb previously heard that Apple was flirting with the idea of releasing an iPad 2 Pro or iPad 3 this year, but by August we heard production issues meant they were moving back to a spring 2012 schedule.

Source: CNet

According to Economic Daily News out of Taiwan, Apple has purportedly paired up with LG Display and AU Optronics for a new 7.85-inch iPad to be released in early 2012. The smaller iPad would supposedly carry the same 1024×768 resolution of the current iPad 2, making a higher DPI level and helping Apple compete with the recently-announced 7-inch Kindle Fire.

This isn’t the first we’ve heard of a smaller iPad from Economic Daily News, as around the same time last year there were rumors of Apple prepping a 7-inch iPad for a Christmas 2010 release that never saw the light of day.

As with all iPad speculation, take this with a 7.8-inch grain of salt. Steve Jobs famously hated on the idea due to the lack of screen size limiting the quality of the apps.

Anyone else get the feeling the crazy rumor people won’t be happy until they’ve spread word of Apple making an imagined tablet in every size Samsung makes a real one?

Source: Economic Daily News via UnwiredView

9to5Mac posted some thoughts on what they think happened with the more ambitious iPhone 5 update that some were expecting to be announced at Apple’s Lets Talk iPhone event earlier this month.

The iPhone 4S as you see it was originally planned to be released at WWDC with iOS 5, like every iPhone before it [...] But something happened around February of this year that threw everything off. Apple was still integrating the Siri team and code into iOS and it was going much slower than planned. At the same time, Apple’s iPhone 5 (teardrop) plans were moving along on or ahead of schedule and the first prototypes were testing well. With mid-October being the earliest possible date of a Siri-fied iOS being ready – with “Apple-levels” of polish –Apple had to look at its options.

This could explain the iPhone 5 case leak-a-palooza we saw just before the iPhone 4S announcement.

TiPb’s own sources are split on this, with some saying Apple had planned iPhone 5 as the new iPhone, and iPhone 4S as souped up iPhone 4 for the mid-range market. Others insist iPhone 4S was the plan all along, and no redesign was ever in the cards for this year (or at least, wasn’t considered for long).

9to5Mac‘s sources expect the redesigned iPhone to be announced in summer of 2012. TiPb’s still hearing fall 2012, but this far out Apple can and will keep plans as flexible as possible.

Hit the link below for a full breakdown.

Source: 9to5Mac

9to5Mac got a tip that Apple has started allowing downloadable content from magazine publishers into the new iOS 5 Newsstand app. Right now it seems like only Wired and GQ, but more are sure to follow as tomorrow’s iOS 5 launch approaches.

We’re still waiting on the likes of The New York Times, SF Chronicle, Daily Telegraph and many more. Magazine publishers are jumping on board too, with National Geographic, SPIN, Conde Nast, Nylon, The Telegraph, GQ Esquire etc.,

Anyone else manage to nab a newspaper or magazine in Newsstand yet?

Source: 9to5Mac

Mark Gurman from 9to5Mac has spotted something interesting deep inside the iOS 5 file system — code references to a next generation Apple TV 3,1. Given Apple’s internal naming conventions, a move the current Apple TV 2,1 to an Apple TV 3,1 should signify a major upgrade, which could lend credence to rumors of a Apple A5 on the horizon, and perhaps even the 1080p video muscle that comes with it.

Another A5-powered, iPhone 4S feature that would be great to see? Siri, Apple’s artificially intelligent voice control system.

Source: 9to5Mac

As TiPb feared, This Is My Next says AT&T may indeed have plans to seize some competitive advantage over Verizon and Sprint by using a little faux 4G, just as they’ve been doing with Android for a while now.

the carrier is apparently “working with Apple” to change the indicator in theiPhone 4S (which tops out at 14.4Mbps, up from the iPhone 4′s 7.2Mbps) to show “4G” in the status bar as well.

Apple has a history of not allowing carriers to manipulate any aspects of the iPhone so hopefully AT&T won’t get too far with this. Apple themselves don’t even mentioned HSPA+ in their iPhone 4S specs, even though it technically qualifies as HSPA +. Likewise, Apple SVP of marketing, Phil Schiller mentioned during the Lets Talk iPhone keynote that Apple won’t get into the business of determining what’s true 4G and what isn’t.

Given that Verizon and Sprint are only getting the same EV-DO rev A radio speeds as iPhone 4, it’s easy to see why AT&T is pushing so hard. In fact, they’ve even put out a handy infographic to push the point:

Source: This Is My Next, AT&T PR

Facebook has reportedly had their iPad app ready to go for some time and may have been planning its announcement around Apple’s Lets Talk iPhone event this past Tuesday. Same goes for their iOS web platform Project Spartan. Robert Scoble suggested last night that Steve Jobs passing may have had something to do with Facebook’s non-announcement.

Today a guy I know at Facebook told me that Apple just “went dark” this weekend and stopped answering emails and phone calls (they had amazing new iPhone and iPad apps and a new developer platform all ready for announcing). Folks inside Facebook thought they had done something massively wrong. No, they hadn’t. Truth is you had something deeper to deal with.

If that’s the case, and Facebook really does have a new Facebook for iPhone, Facebook for iPad, and web platform for iOS ready to go, could we still see it soon?

Source: Robert Scoble

As is usual with Apple, they’ve not mentioned the amount of RAM in iPhone 4S at either the Let’s Talk iPhone event or in the specs online. Rumors have suggested it has 1GB of RAM but it appears that it may only have 512MB, the same amount as the iPhone 4 and the iPad 2. The information comes from an interview with Chair Entertainment’s creative director Donald Mustard who had been involved in the development of Infinity Blade 2 demo shown off at the event.

I’m still shocked that, with the iPhone 4S, I’m literally running around with a 1080p video camera in my pocket, with an eight megapixel camera, 64GB of hard drive space and an A5 chip with 512MB of memory. This is a really powerful computer, right?

Source: Eurogamer via This is my next

Just like our good friends over at The Cell Phone Junkie have been saying pretty much all along, the Wall Street Journal‘s own people familiar with those briefed on the sources are now chiming in with WiMax- and LTE- (Long Term Evolution) busting reports of their own.

[The next generation iPhone] won’t operate on long-term evolution or WiMAX fourth-generation networks.

Which has always made sense, given the proper chipset for lower-powered LTE won’t be ready until 2012 and WiMax has no real footprint outside of Sprint.

Still, iPhone 5/iPhone 4S should support HSPA+, which AT&T, Rogers, et. al will still call 4G anyway… But that will leave Verizon — and Sprint, if they get the next generation iPhone today as expected — stuck on the slower, more limited EVDO Rev A for another year. Would that weigh into your carrier choice at all?

Source: Wall Street Journal

I’m hearing that Apple is working on a new iPad app that looks a lot like DirecTV without the dish, too. Again, that app will have Steve Jobs’ fingerprints all over it as it will be more expansive than the press is expecting in its content availability. There’s a reason Apple built a 500,000-square-foot datacenter (about twice the size of a Facebook one, by the way) and that new datacenter is for video and the data that video causes to be shared with everyone.

Source: Robert Scoble Google+

The Tech Erra points to a snippet of code discovered in iTunes 10.5 beta 9 indicating that Apple may begin allowing App Store app rentals.

“510.036″ = “Apps are automatically removed from your iTunes library at the end of the rental period.”;

This either suggests iOS users could finally have the ability to play around with an app before deciding to purchase, or someone just got sloppy with some strings.

Personally, I’ve desired some type of demo capability in my iPhone ever since Apple debuted the App Store in 2008. A “try before you buy” approach could mean more sales for developers and a more pleasurable experience for users. But rental? How much would it cost to “rent” an app, and for how long? 15 cents for 24 hours as opposed to a full 99 cent purchase? Seems a bit awkward..

Source: The Tech Erra via AppAdvice

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Sprint has landed a huge $20 billion deal with Apple to purchase roughly 30 million iPhone units over the next four years.

Mr. Hesse told the board the carrier would have to agree to purchase at least 30.5 million iPhones over the next four years—a commitment of $20 billion at current rates—whether or not it could find people to buy them, according to people familiar with the matter. In order to keep the price people pay for the phone low and competitive with rivals, Sprint would be subsidizing the cost of each phone to the tune of about $500, which would take a long time to recoup even at the high monthly fees iPhone users pay.

Sprint is calling this an “all-in” gamble as they’re essentially betting the farm on the iPhone to keep them competitive with Verizon and AT&T. But this seems to us like a very high risk gamble for Sprint to take.

BGR also claims they have word from an “incredibly solid source” that Sprint has landed an exclusive deal on the iPhone 5 with support for 4G WiMax out of the gate, with AT&T and Verizon only getting the device later next year.

I have been told that Sprint will be getting the iPhone 5 — yes the real iPhone 5, not the iPhone 4S — as an exclusive. And it will be a WiMAX device. AT&T and Verizon would launch the iPhone 4S and get the iPhone 5 sometime in the first quarter of next year as an LTE device. Globally, the iPhone 5 might be available as a 4G HSPA+ device.

Wouldn’t it be far more likely, however, for Sprint to get a budget iPhone 4 and offer it at a far cheaper contract than AT&T or Verizon?

Source: WSJ, BGR

9to5Mac‘s Mr. X claims that not only has the iPhone 4S begun appearing in Apple’s internal inventory system, but that it’s appearing in 3 capacities. For the last couple of years, Apple has only offered 16GB and 32GB iPhones, with the previous year’s model going the budget 8GB size. Could iPhone 4S once again raise the storage stakes to a full 64GB?

Given that we’ve also heard from manufacturing sources that Apple has at least been prototyping 64GB versions of the new iPhone, we would say it’s fairly likely that Apple’s new iPhone will come in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB capacities; just like the iPad.

While iCloud theoretically changes the dynamics of local storage, audiophiles, videophiles, and other who still want to carry around a large volume of media and other files would no doubt still want and use 64GB on-device. It would likely require double density NAND Flash chips to achieve, since iPhone has traditionally had half the storage slots as an iPod touch. If Apple does start using those chips, could a 128GB iPod touch be on the horizon as well, allowing Apple to retire their aging iPod classic player?

We’ll find out Tuesday.

Source: 9to5Mac

Chris Chang from M.I.C. Gadgets claims that Apple manufacturer Foxconn may have “lost” an iPhone 5 prototype, which was subsequently sold to case manufacturers who then promptly began producing cases that leaked onto the internet, flooding us with rumors of the larger, wider, tear-drop shaped form factor.

With its past experience, one might think Apple would have been able to track that prototype down in a heartbeat. However, Apple was outsmarted. The person who had access to the prototype wiped the phone’s software, thus disabling the GPS hardware needed to track it down. It was then allegedly sold to one of the iPhone case manufacturers for RMB ¥20,000 (about $3,100). We were told that Foxconn was aware of the loss and had penalized internal management for the incident. We also heard from another source that the person who “lost” it was paid to do so. This case is similar to the iPad 2 leak reported back in June, where three men were jailed for stealing unreleased information about the Apple tablet.

Apple has been known to produce more than one iPhone prototype before — an ambitious model and a more conservative model if the ambitious one doesn’t come together in time. Whether or not this story is accurate, whether or not Apple had this type of prototype in the pipe for iPhone 5, and whether or not they’re going to bring it to market are all unknowns at this point.

What’s not an unknown is that Apple will finally settle this once and for all on October 4.

According to Mashable, Facebook will finally launch the official Facebook for iPad app next to an update to its iPhone counterpart at Apple’s iPhone 5 event next week. Former Facebook developer Jeff Verkoeyen recently spoke out against Facebook yesterday for dragging their feet on releasing the long rumored iPad app. Apparently “a combination of timing and a strained relationship with Apple” was at the heart of the issue, but the two have finally come to an agreement. Why?

thanks to the shared goal of beating Google — and the simple fact that Facebook and Apple may need each other. The former doesn’t have a mobile platform while Apple doesn’t have a social platform. The culmination of this renewed friendship: the launch of Facebook for iPad at Apple’s iPhone 5 media event.

To be honest, at this point I’m not holding my breath and will believe it when I see it in the App Store. In the meantime, check out our Top 5 Facebook for iPad apps to help you with the wait.

Source: Mashable

Rumor has it word that Amazon’s rumored 7-inch tablet will be known as the “Kindle Fire”, and in addition to a forked version of Android software, it might also be using a reduced cost version of the BlackBerry PlayBook hardware.

TechCrunch scored the name Kindle Fire, and says Amazon won’t be ready to release it until the second week of November. Ryan Block from GDGT further broke down the reasons TechCrunch felt inclined to compare the form-factor of the Kindle Fire to that of the Blackberry Playbook:

My sources tell me that RIM originally outsourced much of the hardware design and production of the PlayBook to mega-ODM Quanta — a company that builds, and sometimes helps design, hardware for name brands. The time eventually came that Amazon’s executives decided to do an Android tablet — far likelier to respond to the dark-horse success of the Nook Color than to the adjacent success of the iPad — Amazon’s own Kindle group (called Lab 126) apparently opted not to take on the project, in favor of continuing to work solely on next-gen E-Ink-based devices. From there, Amazon’s team determined they could build a tablet without the help and experience of Lab 126, so they turned to Quanta, which helped them “shortcut” the development process by using the PlayBook as their hardware template.

Block seems worried about this “shortcut” move by Amazon on the hardware, but TechCrunch asserts that the user-experience is top notch thanks to custom Android software running the tablet. Regardless, it’s an interesting pedigree to say the least.

Amazon has also apparently been working on last minute content deals with Fox for streaming movies and TV shows, and the tablet is expected to include their MP3 service and Kindle bookstore next to a proprietary Android Marketplace. Additionally, AllThingsD says a few big-name magazine publishers have signed on to provide content for the device.

When Amazon unveils its new iPad-like device on Wednesday, it will have the backing of at least three of the big magazine publishers: Hearst, Conde Nast and Meredith all have deals to sell digital versions of their titles on the new device, according to industry sources.

And then there’s the pricing issue. It was previously speculated that Amazon would price the tablet at around $250 with the inclusion of a free Amazon Prime membership, which comes with their popular streaming video service and free shipping on all products across the site. It’s now believed that Amazon may sell the Kindle Fire at $300 with Amazon Prime included, with another option available at $250 without the service.

We’ll have to wait and see after the announcement on Wednesday, but so far the rumor buildup has my curiosity piqued. Could this actually be the first real iPad competitor everyone has been waiting for, or will it only grow the still maturing tablet market even more?

Source: TechCrunch, GDGT, AllThingsD

Randomly accurate rumor site Digitimes is once again beating the drum on rumors they spurred up back in May about Apple prepping a curved-glass design across iOS devices including the iPhone 6 for 2012.

Apple reportedly also has bought glass polishing equipment for its suppliers in preparation for the production of devices fitted with curved cover glass. Lens Technology, Fuji Crystal, G-Tech are said to be major cover glass suppliers of Apple. While Lens and Fuji focus on iPhones, G-Tech supplies mainly for iPad

As always with rumors from Digitimes we urge you to take this with a 3.5-inch grain of salt. Apple supposedly purchased upwards of 300 glass cutting machines earlier in the year that they’ve stored in warehouses until production yield rates meet their requirements, and glass makers have had a hard time entertaining the idea of producing curved glass for Apple because of capital costs.

We’ll have to wait until next year before we see if Apple pushes out an iPhone with a curved-glass display… or if they’re just using them for all the windows on their new mothership HQ.

Source: Digitimes

TiPb received the above screenshot today which purports to show Case-Mate Barely There cases for iPhone 5 in an AT&T reseller point-of-sale system (POS). We’ve seen a lot of case leaks before, even Case-Mate leaks, and it’s not hard to imagine case makers gambling on leaked designs, but retail systems stocking them already?

Seriously, October 4 can’t get here soon enough.

According to a report from All Things D, Apple will hold its media event to launch the iPhone 5 on October 4.  The information comes from “sources close to the situation”.

Tuesday, October 4. That’s the day Apple is currently expected to hold its next big media event, according to sources close to the situation, where the tech giant will unveil the next iteration of its popular iPhone.

The event will be of particular significance because it will supposedly be fronted for the first time by new CEO Tim Cook. Tim Cook will be the main presenter according to the same sources but will have help as usual from Scott Forstall, Phil Schiller and maybe even Eddy Cue.

TiPb previously heard that Apple was moving up the iPhone 5 launch from an October 14 to October 7 timeline, but if the announcement is only happening on October 4, the launch would have to be later in the month, perhaps October 14 again.

There has been no official word from Apple to confirm the date and until there is, this remains nothing more than a rumor; although All Things D is a very reliable source. Apple will send out invites for the event but notoriously leaves it as late as possible. We will let you know as soon as it is set in stone!

UPDATE: Jim Dalrymple for The Loop, whose sources at Apple are usually terrific, seems to agree about the date. [The Loop]

Yep.

[All Things D]

T-Mobile Chief Marketing Officer Cole Brodman held a townhall meeting today where he told employees that the company would unfortunately not be included among the carriers getting the iPhone 5 when it launches later this year.

We are not going to get the iPhone 5 this year.

TiPb previously heard that the T-Mobile iPhone 5 launch was already being prepped, so either that information was inaccurate, something has changed, or iPhone 5 isn’t the iPhone T-Mobile is getting (budget iPhone?, iPhone 4S? Who can keep track at this point?)

Could T-Mobile be the only major US carrier without an iPhone in its stocking this holiday season, or could they still have an iPhone party before the end of 2011?

[TmoNews]

Chinese networking site Weibo posted a photo showing the Apple A5 system-on-a-chip (SoC) used in the iPad 2 nestled into what appears to be a next generation iPhone logic board. The logic board is connected to a white iPhone 4-like front cover with a speaker mesh that looks slightly larger than that of the official white iPhone 4.

The image also shows a slightly larger battery running at 1430mAH compared to the current iPhone 4 battery running at 1420mAH despite both batteries carrying the same model number.

It’s still up in the air as to whether Apple will release the iPhone 5 next to a cheaper iPhone 4S-style model, but the photo certainly suggests an expected specifications bump with an iPhone-4 like form factor.

As to this specific picture, some of the aspects of the image seem fishy to us. For example, the A5 logo stamped onto the chip itself looks rather suspect, so as always take this with a processor-sized grain of salt until we get the official word.

[Weibo via phoneArena]

iPad 2 have been marked as discontinued at Target according to a source who sent TiPb the above screens. Though these only show the 16GB iPad 2 3G on both Verizon and AT&T as being discontinued, our source maintains none of the current SKUs are long for Target’s shelves.

That implies that we will not be ordering more, which implies a new iPad is forthcoming rather soon (October-ish, say). Either that or Target’s exiting the iPad business, which seems unlikely. A lot of the cases have gone clearance too.

TiPb previously heard that while Apple was considering moving it up to a fall release, iPad 3 had been pushed back again to spring, perhaps because the 2048×1536 Retina Displays couldn’t yet be made cheaply enough at sufficient yield rates.

If that’s accurate, and the discontinued status isn’t a glitch in the system, what this portends for current iPad 2 SKUs, or Target’s iPad business is uncertain.

Unwire.HK has uncovered a few pictures today that are supposedly from a screen protector for the upcoming iPhone 5. The screen protector, if real, shows an elongated opening for the home button as well as a much larger screen size for the new iPhone model compared to the current iPhone 4.

We have seen quite a few case leaks recently which supposedly showed the rear of the iPhone 5 and a few months back there was an alleged iPhone 5 case which does appear to match up with this screen protector. It also showed an elongated opening for the home button which may be for a capacitive touch area rather than a physical button.

The screen size also appears to be larger when compared with an iPhone 4. It is believed however that all of these case and screen protector leaks are based on one particular source of design information; so they may all be wrong or of course, they may all be right. Until Apple announces the iPhone 5, we will just have to wait and see!

UPDATE: This post was originally published with the watermarks removed from the original images. That’s simply not how TiPb does business. We’ll figure out how it happened and make sure it doesn’t happen again. Our apologies to Unwire.hk, we deeply regret the error. (Thanks to stupidapplerumors.com for the head’s up!)

[Unwire.HK via MacRumors]

iMessage is an iOS 5 messaging application which includes sending messages, photos and videos over WiFi or 3G. Messages can be pushed across all iOS devices that use the same account. You can even pick up on the conversation right where you left off when switching from your iPhone to your iPad or iPod touch.

MacRumors received some information today that reveals some new code has been added to OS X Lion’s iChat framework that points to integration with the iChat app and iMessage.

The “timeDelivered” and “timeRead’ fields indicate the tracking of delivery and read receipts for instant messages. These features, however, are not supported in any of iChat’s native messaging protocols, while the same features are offered in Apple’s iMessage protocol. These properties were also not present in previous versions of iChat prior to OS X Lion. We believe the only reason Apple would have added these properties was to build in cross compatibility with their new iMessage protocol.

[MacRumors]

Boy Genius says, according to their trusted sources, iOS 5 beta 8 will be released this Friday, September 16, followed by the gold master (GM) on September 23, paving the way for an early October release just like TiPb heard a while back.

If September 28 is indeed the go date for the GM seed, will Apple hold their special fall event on or around that date? Apple has often used events to announce both first beta and GM seed releases in the past, and it would leave a week or two for developers to hammer on it before an iPhone 5 release on October 7 or October 14.

We’ll have to wait for Apple to send out invitations to know for sure.

[BGR]

MacRumors got wind of research note from — wait for it — an analyst named Ming-Chi Kuo who claims Apple is sending the gold master (GM) build of iOS 5 to manufacturers for assembly of iPhone 5 sometime between September 23 to 30.

However, Kuo actually seems to be referring to the rumored N94 update of iPhone 4 (sometimes referred to as iPhone 4S. He provides the following details:

• 512 MB of RAM: This is to be expected, as the next iPhone should be using the same A5 chip found in the iPad 2, which does in fact offer 512 MB of RAM.
• Camera module height “almost same” as in iPhone 4: Camera thickness is the major limiting factor for overall device thickness, meaning that the next iPhone is not likely to be significantly thinner than the iPhone 4. Sony is said to have started shipping camera sensors to Apple’s manufacturers back in July, with OmniVision coming online to assist in September or October.
• 3.5-inch display: A number of rumors have claimed that Apple will be using a larger display for the new iPhone, but Kuo’s sources indicate the screen will be the same size as that found in the iPhone 4.
• Glass front and back: Although not 100% confident on this item, Kuo’s sources suggest that Apple will continue to utilize the same basic design of the iPhone 4, with glass on both the front and back of the device.
• Manufacturing shares: Foxconn is scheduled to handle 85% of the production load for the new iPhone, with Pegatron taking the remaining 15%. As previously noted, Pegatron will be a bit slower to ramp up production, and will primarily be supplying Apple’s Asia-Pacific markets.

So either Apple is doing an amazing job keeping a redesigned iPhone 5 under wraps, or iPhone 5 (iPhone 4S) won’t be a major redesign (which is what TiPb heard a long time ago.)

If the next iPhone isn’t a radical redesign, will you be any less likely to get it?

[MacRumors]

According to randomly accurate rumor site Digitimes, Foxconn is currently rolling out around 150,000 iPhone 5 units a day. The information comes from industry sources. Pegatron Technology who were thought to have won around 15% of the iPhone 5 manufacturing orders may not start shipping until 2012 according to the same sources.

Lens maker Largan Precision, touch panel maker TPK Holding, reinforced glass supplier G-Tech Optoelectronics and battery vendors Simplo and Dynapack are all operating at full swing currently, the sources indicated.

[Digitimes]

Pocket Now has found what they think is an iPhone 5 camera test photo taken by an Apple engineer. What makes them so suspicious?

This (very attractive) photo claims to have been taken by an iPhone 4, but the rest of its EXIF data tells a different story: although the image has been cropped to 2235×2291 (5.12 megapixels), the original picture was a much larger 3264×2448 — or just shy of eight megapixels. What’s more, the lens was recorded as a 4.3mm f/2.4, which is closer to that of a point-and-shoot than the iPhone 4′s actual 3.85mm f/2.8.

iPhone 5 has long been rumored to be getting an 8 megapixel camera, lets just hope Apple keeps prioritizing photons over size and we get a great sensor to go with it.

[Pocket Now]

Mark Gurman over at 9to5Mac has sources familiar with people who know about Apple Store and carrier partner training, and they’re showing and telling him that iOS 5 and iCloud training has begun.

Apple Stores usually only begin their training of new software in the couple of weeks leading up to a respective product launch (obviously this time around could be different, though). Apple beginning their iOS 5 training within the last few days could mean a launch sooner than the recently rumored dates of mid-to-late October.

In addition to store employee training, carriers are also getting special versions of iOS 5 software.

Separately, Apple’s most prominent carrier partners have been seeded near-final builds of iOS 5 for final testing. This build is newer than the betas seeded to developers and includes some unique features. According to a source testing this build, FaceTime over 3G is active. According to this source, testers are being instructed that 3G FaceTime testing is a high priority.

Their versions also reportedly running Apple’s new Nuance-powered speech-to-text feature, though NOT the full on SIRI-powered Assistant feature that’s also been rumored for iOS 5.

Apple could still be working on it, could have shelved it, or could be keeping it exclusively for new iPhone 5

[9to5Mac, x2]

Apple’s retail store employees are starting to receive training on the features of iOS 5 and iCloud. The information comes in the form of a screenshot from Apple’s Daily Download. The Daily Download is an Apple internal iPad application in the form of a newspaper; which is used to communicate information to its employees on a daily basis.

iOS 5 and iCloud are just around the corner— it’s time to prepare for the next generation of mobile innovation. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be presenting a series covering everything you need to know to provide our customers with the best iOS experience. This week, learn some new features of iOS 5 and iCloud.

[9to5Mac]

9to5Mac‘s resident shinobi, Mark Gurman, has posted details on several upcoming — or potentially upcoming — iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad features for iOS 5), including the Nuance-powered, voice controlled Assistant, a new online iOS diagnostic service, and Find my Friends social sharing.

Assistant, likely built on Apple’s SIRI artificial intelligence acquisition, and powered by Nuance’s voice recognition engine, is now in testing. What’s more, just like Google’s Mobile app for iOS, it just might use the accelerometer and proximity sensor to activate when you bring your iPhone to your ear.

According to code strings we have found in the iOS 5 SDK, all a user will need to do is move their iPhone to their ear, speak, and the requested action will occur.

Find my Friends code seems to have existed in the outgoing MobileMe service, so whether Apple intended to deploy it earlier but is now waiting for iCloud, or whether they’ve cancelled their plans for it is uncertain.

According to the code, users will be able to select other users to “follow.” Once a user “follows” another user, they will gain access to information about the user besides their location.

Once followed, users could share Photo Streams, Video Streams (not currently available in iOS 5 betas), map location, etc.

Lastly, it looks like Apple might be getting ready to roll out an updated iOS Diagnostics service.

There has never been an easier way for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users to give service providers the information they need to troubleshoot and diagnose iOS devices effectively. Users benefit from a faster and more accurate diagnosis. The in-depth information that iOS Diagnostics retrieves can be invaluable to technician’s troubleshooting efforts.

Diagnostics could become available in the next couple months, while Assistant and Find my Friends, if it launches, feel more like features that would be introduced at the iPhone 5 event we expect sometime later this month.

[9to5Mac, x2, x3, x4]

A photograph of an internal Best Buy retail calendar screenshot may give us the best clue yet as to the launch day of the iPhone 5. The event in question is an Apple fixture installation and is scheduled for October 21st. The date in question is a Friday which would line up with other iPhone release days.

This not a normal fixture installation either according to a tipster who talked to This is my next. The request for a manager to be on hand at 6am is not the norm and is a mirror image of what happened when the iPhone 4 was launched last year. The tipster also went on to say that Best Buy managers have a meeting scheduled for October 10 to discuss upcoming releases.

TiPb recently heard that an original release date of October 14 was being moved up to October 7. Whether it’s now been moved back again, this time to October 21 we’re not certain, but because Apple doesn’t pre-announce products, they’re free to adjust the exact date up until even invitations go out and their executives take the stage.

I still expect an announcement of the iPhone 5 at the end of this month with a mid October release. Either way, I am now sick of suffering with an iPhone 4 that is out of warranty. Anyone else tired of waiting for iPhone 5 already?

UPDATE: Boy Genius also got their hands on a Best Buy screen today, this one pointing to a possible first week of October launch for iPhone 5, similar to what TiPb heard a few weeks ago. They also seem to indicate Sprint will be one of the launch carriers, which has been another of the big rumors circulating lately. All of this, again, claims to be subject to change.

[This is my Next, BGR]

M.G. Siegler from TechCrunch claims he’s gone hands-on with the future of iPad competition, and the future of Amazon’s Kindle line — a 7-inch full color, touchscreen tablet built on an Android core but entirely Amazon at the interface level. All for $250. If you think it sounds like the Nook Color, you’re not wrong, it just trades the B&N brick-and-mortar shelves for Amazon’s hugely popular homepage.

The interface is all Amazon and Kindle. It’s black, dark blue, and a bunch of orange. The main screen is a carousel that looks like Cover Flow in iTunes which displays all the content you have on the device. This includes books, apps, movies, etc. Below the main carousel is a dock to pin your favorite items in one easy-to-access place. When you turn the device horizontally, the dock disappears below the fold. [...] But the key for Amazon is just how deeply integrated all of their services are. Amazon’s content store is always just one click away. The book reader is a Kindle app (which looks similar to how it does on Android and iOS now). The music player is Amazon’s Cloud Player. The movie player is Amazon’s Instant Video player. The app store is Amazon’s Android Appstore.

With nary a Google app in sight. Phil Nickinson from Android Central says:

It’ll still be interesting to see how a post-Nook Color Amazon tablet will compete. The Kindle’s no longer the only game in town, and Barnes & Noble has a pretty good leg up by being a brick-and-mortar organization as well, plus it’s got its excellent in-store customer training, which has to take a lot of the scare factor out of using the Nook. (One could argue that a proper tablet UI doesn’t need any sort of training, but we digress.)

Everyone and their comment thread seems to be thinking this will be the first real competition to iPad (which is what they said about Xoom, PlayBook, TouchPad… you get the idea.) It well might. It’ll be small. It’ll be light. Amazon has a great checkout system and a compelling content story in the US (international is, as with every platform, a mixed bag of hurt.) Their hardware has never been great, however, and international sales have become increasingly important to Apple and iPad.

People like cheap, but cost and value aren’t always the same thing — as Apple has proven time and again. (Apple’s competition hasn’t, however, so maybe they’ll be in even more danger from the KindleDroid?)

One thing is for certain — Android is the new Linux.

[TechCrunch via Android Central]

According to CNET, Apple has once again lost an iPhone prototype in a bar, this time Cava2 in San Francisco’s Mission district.

Apple electronically traced the phone to a two-floor, single-family home in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood, according to the source.

When San Francisco police and Apple’s investigators visited the house, they spoke with a man in his twenties who acknowledged being at Cava 22 on the night the device went missing. But he denied knowing anything about the phone. The man gave police permission to search the house, and they found nothing, the source said. Before leaving the house, the Apple employees offered the man money for the phone no questions asked, the source said, adding that the man continued to deny he had knowledge of the phone.

The prototype may have been sold on Craigslist for $200 but the details sound sketchy, as does the nature of the prototype itself (iPhone 5?) and what version of iOS it was running.

Last year Apple famously lost or had stolen an iPhone 4 prototype which ended up sold to a gadget blog, touching off an industry wide controversy and almost a year long criminal investigation.

Any bets what happens this time?

[CNET]

VintageZen has a post up asking what place in Apple’s lineup the iPod touch would serve once a budget iPhone hits the market, especially if it’s ultra-cheap and Apple can strong-arm the carriers into offering pay-as-you-go plans and iPad-like month-to-month data plans.

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With the coming fall event, this is Apple’s opportunity to make a trademark dramatic move and kill off the iPod Touch from their product line. However, they shouldn’t just leave a void where the iPod Touch once was, they should replace it with the much rumored low-end iPhone. The low-end iPhone would fit perfectly into the market where the iPod Touch was, and in many ways would be better than the iPod Touch for most consumers.

Daring Fireball thinks it could help equalize the iPhone product vs. Android OS numbers metrics companies love to trot out.

It makes sense in a lot of ways for Apple. Simpler product lineup. It would even help with “smartphone market share” numbers — iPod Touches are dark matter in such comparisons that only count “phones”. Plus, I don’t recall seeing (or hearing privately, myself) any rumors about a new iPod Touch for this fall.

TUAW battled this out back in June. The whole debate is worth reading (check this link below) but in sum:

Apple has removed the “iPod” branding from iOS 5. In iOS 4 and earlier, both the iPhone and iPad handle music playback via an “iPod” app, but in iOS 5 these two devices instead have a “Music” app just like the iPod touch. It may mean nothing, but it’s still an interesting move considering the iPod was Apple’s top-selling product for so many years.

Apple certainly has killed products, even best selling products like iPod mini (which was replaced with iPod nano). Right now iPod touch sits in the middle of the road — no phone, no 3G, no large screen. If the budget iPhone really is cheap to buy and cheap to run, is there any space left for the current style iPod touch? Or do those two lines become one?

[VintageZen, Daring Fireball,

Randomly accurate Digitimes and their “upstream sources” are back again with some more rumors on iPhone 5, including changes to both the size of the display and the material used for the back plate:

In addition, iPhone 5′s back design will be changed to a metal chassis instead of reinforced-glasses.

The sources added that the iPhone 5 will adopt a 3.5- to 3.7-inch panel with a design to allow the bezel of the panel to become thinner and make the screen look larger.

If you’re thinking rumors about iPhone 5 have been all over the place, and wildly contradictory this year, you’re not alone. It could be that Apple, as it reportedly has done in the past, had a more ambitious and a more conservative iPhone 5 prototype and elements of both have leaked. It could also be that Apple’s rumored 2nd iPhone, the lower-budget iPhone nano is leading to some confusion about which rumors pertain to which devices. Lastly, iPhone 4, which historically should drop in price but stay on the market after iPhone 5 gets introduced, could also get some tweaks — become an iPhone 4S — to make it less expensive to produce or even upgrade its processor to a newer A5 so Apple doesn’t have to keep two chipsets in production.

We’ll only know for certain this October.

[Digitimes, mockup via MacRumors]

VentureBeat boldly restarts the Apple television set rumors this weekend, saying it’s “almost certainly” being prepared for 2012 or 2013 according to “multiple sources in Silicon Valley”. They backup the claim by citing numerous analysts, many of whom have records so hit and miss with Apple predictions that magic 8-balls could give them a run for their money, as well as a few opaque quotes from the WSJ and sites with equally hit or miss records.

An Apple-based television makes sense in light of Apple’s continued expansion out of the computer industry into the larger consumer electronics market.

But here’s the thing — Apple isn’t expanding into the larger consumer electronics market at all. They’re slowly, step by step, adding very specific products that leverage existing technologies like iOS, can be put together with lower component costs than the industry average, will sell for higher margins than the rest of the industry, and offer better customer experiences than any of the competition.

Television sets are currently a cut-throat, low margin business. Sure, like computers, there a high-end premium market Apple could aim for, and like the smartphone market, existing suppliers have been battling it out on specs, leaving their flanks wide open for disruption on the experience side — but is it a market where Apple could sell hundreds of millions of iOS devices?

They’re trying with Apple TV, priced at only $99, and it’s remained a “hobby”. Certainly adding a secondary box (after the cable box) is nowhere near as elegant a solution as having iOS built into the TV itself, but it’s also one that doesn’t require consumers to buy a whole new television set.

The last time there were strong rumors about an Apple television set, TiPb heard it was really a 27-inch iMac. Now we have a 27-inch iMac and still no television set. We haven’t heard anything about Apple working on a 32-inch iMac (or cinema display) to justify these new rumors, but we have been around long enough to know Apple won’t release anything that doesn’t grow their business.

That’s not to say Apple isn’t working it. They’re likely working on dozens of new devices, many of which they’ll say their famous “no” to and will never see the light of day. There were rumors and denials about phones for years before the iPhone, and rumors about the iPad immediately thereafter. From media to consumer, we always want to know what’ll be the next big thing from Apple. But what could and Apple television bring to the table, both for Apple and consumers, that Apple TV doesn’t already?

Don’t get me wrong, based on design and build quality alone, I’d love an Apple television, especially if Apple could figure out how, like iPad, to deliver great technology at a great price. I’d love how AirPlay and other iOS features would “just work” with my existing iPhone, Mac and other devices. But it would have to somehow disintermediate the cable and media companies the way iPhone disintermediated the carriers, or the way iPad sidestepped them completely. And as Steve Jobs said at the All Things D conference, that’s an even trickier bunch of nuts to crack.

It by no means “makes sense” right now, and Apple won’t ramp it up until it does, and won’t mention it until Tim Cook or another executive takes stage.

[VentureBeat via MacRumors]