News from category ‘rumors’

TUAW reports that iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S were revealed on i-Wireless, prepaid cell phone section of the Cincinnati Bell website. Cincinnati Bell is a regional carrier in the US, not a major carrier like AT&T or Verizon. Information was quickly removed from the site, but we have couple screenshots 🙂

iPhone 5 was accompanied by a $639.99 price tag and a handful of specs: 32GB, 8MP camera, 4" screen and 4G data speeds. These specifications align with most of the rumors that we've heard about the device.

Read the rest of this entry »

9to5Mac reports that Apple has leaked the iPhone 4S alongside a picture of the old design in its latest iTunes Beta:

Inside the latest iTunes beta is a specific mention of the "iPhone 4S." Along with the new iPhone name of "iPhone 4S" comes an image, and it is of a CDMA iPhone 4. Unless Apple still has the CDMA iPhone 4 as a placeholder image until the new iPhone is announced, we're fairly confident that the iPhone 4S will pack the CDMA iPhone design.

It's interesting that iTunes holds just two references to the iPhone 4S (black and white) while the iPhone 4 has four references two for CDMA and two for GSM devices. This once again proves rumors that iPhone 4S will be a dual standard world phone.

Gismodo has managed to obtain images of the iPhone “N90A” model, manufactured by Foxconn's Brazilian factory. The new device is expected to be introduced next week. The N90A model is the low-end iPhone 4 model. As far as you know, the current-generation iPhone 4 has the N90 codename. So the rumors say that the changes will be minor. These images are not something really surprising, we have already seen images of that device, but these very shots prove that Foxconn has already started production of new iPhones in Brazil.  The cheaper iPhone will replace the iPhone 3GS in the low end. The higher end iPhone is rumored to be called the iPhone 4S. The below image demonstrates the model number ("N90A") in the top left and tells that it didn't pass inspection.

According to 9to5Mac the next generation iPhone will be released in 3 different capacities, but they do not sure about exact size of memory. It could be 16GB, 32GB and 64GB or 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB, or some other combination. What sizes Apple will actually release is up for argument. It seems unlikely that an 8GB model will appear, but all will be revealed at Apple’s iPhone 5 / iPhone 4S media event on Tuesday October 4th. But we should note that it is not the first time we’ve heard rumors about 64GB iPhone. Currently, the iPhone 4 is only available in 2 sizes: 16GB and 32GB. The source of the rumor comes from images of an iPhone 4 with storage of 59.1 GB, which shows that Apple have been experimenting with a higher-storage device.

According to Reuters, the $12 billion deal between Brazil and Foxconn to produce Apple’s iPad in a new Brazil-based Foxconn factory is now in doubt. It seems that negotiations between Brazilian government and the iPad-manufacturer have temporarily stalled. The main reasons are high taxes and lack of skilled workers that meet Faxconn expectations.

"We’re dealing with a lot of issues, like the (Taiwanese) trying to figure out how to do business in Brazil … and Brazil figuring out how to produce these complicated products,” a second government official told Reuters. Maybe we will end up starting with something smaller.

Start of production was already put off twice. We see that it still unclear whether the company will manufacture any Apple tablets in this country. As far as we know, Foxconn would like to build a new industrial complex with its own energy system, roads and infrastructure outside Sao Paolo. But the situation is complicated by the fact that the Brazilian government is now engaged in building more profitable $1 trillion projects related to the World Cup and the Summer Olympics the country will host in 2014 and 2016. The other problem includes lack of companies to partner with Foxconn in order to share costs in Brazil.

It’s a requirement to have Brazilian partners, (but) in the technology area the partners we have do not have the financial muscle for investments near that value.

Giga.de has produced a physical prototype mockup of the future iPhone 5. They made it look like in the latest rumors. Everything is done from a solid block of aluminum.

A 3D computer model was created based on leaked CAD designs, hardware components, several leaked hints, cases and other believable mockups. This model was then used to build a very detailed, true prototype iPhone 5, that you can actually hold and feel in your hands.

This prototype width and height are 59.94 mm and 109.98 mm, compared to 115.2 mm x 58.6 mm dimentions of iPhone 4. The prototype is also a bit thinner than its predecessor. Teardrop style with a thickness of 6.86 mm at the top and only 5.33 mm at the bottom.

Here are photos of iPhone 5 Design Prototype compared to iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4:

Read the rest of this entry »

Take a look at infographic that summarizes all news coverage for Apple's next generation iPhone 5:

Read the rest of this entry »

Apple has reportedly added revised iPhone 4 and iPod touch models to its internal inventory database.  There are three new iPod touch models under the codename N81A that are suggested to be the new white iPod touch in three different capacities. As we know, the original black iPod touch has a N81 codename. The white iPod is expected to have the same SPU as the current model, an improved ambient light sensor and the addition of an oleophobic coating. The new iPod touch is likely to be released on October 13th or 14th.

The revised iPhone 4 has appeared in Apple’s inventory database under N90A codename, suggesting a minor change over the existing N90 device. That might be the rumored "iPhone 4S" that has been seen in a number of parts leaks and bearing a nearly identical appearance to the iPhone 4.

According to TUAW, Apple is about discontinuing the iPod classic and iPod shuffle as a part of “product transition”  this year.

It seems that the "product transition" Apple mentioned on the last earnings call could very well be within the iPod line. Specifically, if you want to buy an iPod shuffle or iPod classic from Apple, you should do it sooner rather than later. We've heard those two iPods are getting the axe this year.

The iPods now only make up for 8% of Apple’s total revenue. As the below graph shows, iPod sales have been falling over the last few quarters and although Apple doesn’t break these figures down model by model, its believed the iPod touch is what has held iPod sales up. The iPod nano also appears to be safe for the time being. The last official word about the iPod Classic came from Steve Jobs over a year ago. He said that they had no plans on discontinuing the iPod Classic at that time. Now, it seems they have changed their plans.

Read the rest of this entry »

Gene Munster, Piper Jaffray’s analyst, attributed additional meaning to the “let’s talk” part of the headline on invitations that were sent out for Apple’s media event on October 4th. He said that it is a clue to the Assistant feature of upcoming iPhone. In a note to investors Munster said:

Read the rest of this entry »

Facebook is expected to launch its long-awaited iPad application at the media event that Apple is going to held on October 4th alongside iOS 5 and the next-generation iPhone 5.

Facebook will launch its long-awaited iPad app at Apple’s iPhone 5 launch event on Oct. 4, Mashable has learned. In addition to the iPad app, Facebook is also expected to release a revamped version of its iPhone app and may unveil an HTML5-based mobile app marketplace.

Apple and Facebook worked together to integrate Facebook into iOS but due to disagreement, final release of the application was postponed. Now the companies seem to reach consensus. Last week, Robert Scoble also revealed that he had heard that Facebook would be releasing its iPad app at Apple's event on October 4th.  Facebook is also likely to introduce a revamped iPhone application.

M.I.C. Gadget is reporting that iPhone 5 prototype device was lost by Foxconn or possibly stolen. That is why there are lots of iPhone 5 cases in China today. The design could really be the final one since case manufacturers must be very certain to have shipped "thousands" of cases already. Producing a mold for silicone case costs tens of thousands of RMB (thousands of USD) and a mold for hard plastic cases costs even more.

A case supplier told that a device had gone missing from the Foxconn factory in the Shenzhen Futian district. The prototype was disguised in a case to make it look like the current device. It was apparently a test model with a finalized iPhone 5 teardrop chassis but only had slightly modified iPhone 4 internals.

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.

We are very sure that one or more of these case manufacturers have access to what is believed to be the prototype of the iPhone 5 with the finalized design. It is not simply getting tipped on the dimensions and shapes of the next iPhone to make the molds.

By looking at iPhone 5 case photos one can say that the future iPhone 5 has teardrop desing. It is much thinner (33%) than iPhone 4, but a bit larger in height and width. The height of the case is 4.84 inches (12.3 cm), width - 2.72 inches (6.9 см). The dimensions of iPhone 4 are 4.5 x 2.31 x 0.37 inches (115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm).

Take a look at the video, where this new iPhone 5 teardrop design case is compared to iPhone 4 and iPod Touch:

Here are the photos:

Read the rest of this entry »

JPMorgan analysts have recently predicted that Apple slashed its fourth quarter iPad production plans by 25%, suggesting significant price cut. But The Wall Street Journal believes that such argument is insufficient to make these predictions. Other analysts not that Apple appears to have actually accelerated production ahead of the holiday shopping season. Sources also indicate that Apple plans to begin production of the iPad 3 at the end of the fourth quarter or early in 2012, so accelerating production now, the company tries to ease that transition.

We believe chatter regarding iPad production cuts are misleading – we have seen pull-ins, not cuts. We have noted recent comments by competitors discussing iPad production cuts for 4Q. Our recently published AAPL supply-chain checks noted a sequential decline in 4Q iPad builds from 17 mln-19 mln units in 3Q to 11 mln-13 mln units in 4Q. However, the 4Q sequential decline was accompanied by an increase in 3Q builds, leading us to conclude that production was likely pulled-in from 4Q to 3Q.

Some analysts suggest that the fourth quarter production cuts may be connected with shifting some production to Brazil by the end of the year.

Sources close to Apple’s supply and manufacturing chain (via DigiTimes) say that Apple and other companies from “non-Apple camp” are preparing to manufacture devices with curved glass, mainly touchscreens, in the beginning of 2012.

Read the rest of this entry »

9to5Mac reveals features of the "Assistant" voice-powered personal application that will appear on the next-generation iPhone. The site claims that Assistant allows users to handle scheduling, reminder, and messaging tasks by voice. The system will be also capable to ask user questions to clarify what is being said.

The system will actually speak back and forth with the user to gain the most information in order to provide the best results. The user essentially can hold a conversation with their iPhone like it is another human being. For example, if a user is making a meeting with me, they will say “setup meeting with Mark” and the first “bubble” of the conversation thread will say that. After that, the system will speak back: “which e-mail address should Mark be notified at, work or personal?” This question will both be spoken out loud by the iPhone Assistant and shown as a new “bubble” in the conversation thread. The user will then respond with the email address they want to notify me at, and the appointment will be made. The iPhone will even show a quick glance at a calendar view to confirm the appointment. If the Assistant was sending an SMS, as another example, a mini SMS view would appear so the user has a quick glance at the SMS thread.

Assistant will also integrate with WolframAlpha that will help users receive answers to factual, and  "Find My Friends" service and speech-to-text transcription from Nuance. Of course, such power-consuming application will require more powerful hardware, suggesting that Apple will integrate  A5 chip and RAM to 1 GB to support the heavy workload into the new iPhone.