News from category ‘rumors’

Last week we reported that the next iPad will be equipped with a gyroscope, a Retina Display and USB ports and it’s very likely will get FaceTime capabilities with a front-facing camera. Unfortunately, there is no mention of how many megapixels the cameras might be. So, resent rumor claims that Apple already selected the camera lens maker for the iPad 2.  As expected, such suppler might be the Taiwanese company called Largan Precision. Largan reportedly supplies 5-megapixel lenses for the iPhone 4. It’s also unknown whether the company was selected to ship a VGA front-facing camera, a higher resolution rear one or both.

Apple seems to have grate plans for 2011. So, we’d summarized all rumors and official statement, and formed the following list, which shows Apple's plans for the new year:

• Lion OS;
• Mac App Store;
• iPad 2
• Implementing of Light Peak optical interconnect technology developed by Intel to replace such things like USB, DisplayPort and HDMI. In future, the technology has the potential to reach speeds of 100Gbps. it is also requires smaller connections and thinner cables;
• New model of MacBook Pro notebooks equipped with Intel's Light Peak, 512 GB of SSD storage, without an optical drive. These MacBook Pro's will last longer, run quieter and be lighter and more power-efficient;
• Apple-branded Blu-ray player/burning device which is also capable of burning standard optical media such as DVD or CD;
• Subscription service via iTunes, which would be focused on video services.

According to sources close to component makers for Apple’s computers, the company ships around one million MacBooks per month in Q4 2010. Part of the new MacBook Airs is accounted to 20-25% of the volume. In the first three quarters of 2010 Apple sold about 6.88 million units, and its global notebook market share rose from 3.7% in the first quarter to 5.2% in the third. Apple’s market share in the US market surged from 6.7% to 12.6%. So, it looks like 2011 will be an interesting year for Mac users. Moreover, Apple plans to open the Mac App Store, update the MacBook Pro line and launch new OS X Lion.

Early this month we reported that Apple delayed the release of iOS 4.2 due to the Wi-Fi connection issues. Apple even released a second GM build for iPad to address the Wi-Fi issues. Finally, the iOS 4.2.1 went public. But iPad users still report that they experience Wi-Fi problems after upgrading to iOS 4.2.1. Some iPads fail to join a known WiFi network, some connect but connection drops after 5-10 minutes, some don’t drop the connection but are incredibly slow at rendering web pages and, for example, Youtube videos. Though the iOS 4.2.1 offers its users some fixes, including router reboots, resetting the iPad’s network settings and full restore to iOS 4.2.1, they seem not to work. Nevertheless not every an iPad user experiences such problems.

Mic Gadget posted some shots of pretty cute and realistic Steve Job's action figure which is little bit taller than an iPhone 4. Artificial Apple CEO is dressed in his blue Levi jeans and black turtleneck and looks almost like its prototype. I bet it would be a best-seller. Unfortunately, it will never see the light. A law firm representing Apple’s interests sent the following letter to Mic Garden:

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The Chinese Economy Daily News reports that the Apple's next generation iPad will add 5 distinct new features, including:

• Video phone
• Better mobility
• USB port
• New display technology
• 3-axis gyroscope

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Yesterday BusinessInsider revealed a top-10 list of tablet PCs that will compete with iPad in 2011. Here it is:

1. RIM's BlackBerry Playbook

Release Date: early 2011.



A 7-inch tablet is reported to be faster that iPad with its $500 price tag.

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Apple has reportedly expanded its Cupertino campus in California with the purchase of a 98 acre former HP campus earlier this summer. The land had been used by HP for twenty years before they decided to sell it in order to consolidate all parts of the company nearby Palo Alto. The deal may have cost Apple as much as $300 million. So, now Apple is the largest landholder in the Cupertino city. They now occupy 57 buildings in the city and the company continues to grow. Apple has not announced any plans for the new land, and has only started to use some of the existing buildings on its former, 50 acre land purchase made in 2006. Apple has been locating in Cupertino since 1977, when Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak set up the new company there.

Apple is rumored to plan to launch an all new MacBook Pro in April 2011 alongside an update to Final Cut Pro. The new design seems to be similar to the 2010 MacBook Air. The new MacBook Pros will have solid state storage and 512GB memory. Apple will remove the optical drive and pushed to market Light Peak optical cable interface. Apple is likely not to replace the traditional 13" MacBook Pro and leave only one legacy 15" design in the lineup. Prices will vary from $1,799 for the traditional model with upgrade options available to $1,999 for the new MacBook Pros and scale up according to configuration.

iOS 4.2 was released only a couple of days ago, but Apple is rumored to plane to release the next major update of its mobile operating system, iOS 4.3, this December. New update, as expected, will allow users to subscribe to content and address initial issues with AirPlay. Apple is reportedly planning to hold special media event on December 9 where they will announce the subscription plans. After the special event, on December 13, Apple should release iOS 4.3. As rumored, the reason for the launch of new iOS version is Apple’s massive data center in North Carolina, the purpose of which remains unknown. In addition to supporting of the new payment mechanism, 4.3 version will also include the capability to automatically push out fresh content to tablets.

The Telegraph reports that European carriers forced Apple to abandon their plans to introduce integrated SIM-cards in future iPhone handsets. Well it looks like Apple got a little worried over the European carrier’s threats. Carriers recently accused Apple in trying to gain control of carriers’ relationship with their mobile customers, because such built-in SIM card allows customers to switch between operators easily, sign up for mobile service on Apple’s website without having to call a carrier or visit a store. Obviously, nothing has been confirmed, and, doubtfully, will be. Perhaps, Apple will announce their avoidance of implementing an integrated SIM in future iPhone handsets or may be they won’t.

These days high-end fashion journal for women Women's Wear Daily revealed that Apple CEO Steve Jobs and News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch have been working closely on some project, which is called the Daily. It is said that there is a possibility Murdoch and Jobs together will soon appear onstage to unveil their new product.

The Guardian in the United Kingdom also posted info on that and specified that this is the tablet-only project, which will be allegedly developed with the help of Apple engineers and won't have a web edition or print edition.

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GizChina reports that the genuine white iPhone 4s are being sold by unofficial resells, that means it is being sold on the Chinese gray market. As you can see from the above image, the handsets appear to be real, though it hasn’t yet been confirmed. The boxes, in which the device comes in, are marked with a label warning the phone should be used for internal company use only and not for sale. Currently, the handsets are selling for around $899. This price, obviously, is well above the official retail price of the regular black iPhone 4 in China.

As reported, Apple is developing a built-in SIM card for the Phone. Such embedded SIM card allows users to activate their devices with a broad array of carriers. Moreover, with such card, customers could insist on shorter-term contracts, using the ability to easily switch between carriers as leverage. So, some European carriers (Vodafone in the UK, France Telecom and Telefónica in Spain) are threatening Apple to withhold their iPhone subsidies if the company deploys the technology on the iPhone. Apple was accused in gain control of carriers’ relationship with their mobile customers. This technology allows customers to sign up for mobile service directly on Apple's website. It could allow customers to switch more easily from one to another and even lead to a "war" between operators and Apple. As estimated, Apple’s global iPhone sales could take a 12 percent hit if European carriers carried out their threats.

Apple seems to bring some free options to their paid MobileMe service. As you can see in the shot above, the code shows free MobileMe accounts for iOS devices. The code also says “This Apple ID cannot be used for MobileMe Mail, but you can use it for other MobileMe services.” That means that free accounts may be used for features other than email, as this message specifically restricts certain Apple IDs from being used with MobileMe Mail. Other MobileMe iPhone services include Find My iPhone, iDisk, Contact/Calendar/Safari/Notes over-the-air sync, and Photo Galleries. So, may be Apple will begin offering MobileMe syncing services for free.