News from category ‘Other’

@Chronicwire posts new images of Otterbox case boxes specifically labeled for the "iPhone 4S". Cases have volume buttons on the right side above the SIM-card slot rather than on the left as in the iPhone 4. But, as far as we know the iPhone 4S leaked parts have not revealed such a change, so it is unclear which one is the correct depiction of the forthcoming device. AT&T stores are reported to have refreshed iPhone 4 cases with a change in the back opening for the camera that may be the rumored 8-megapixel camera. But these new cases may be a revision of the existing iPhone 4 cases. Moreover, earlier this month, there appeared information that several Apple stores had received iPhone bumper cases that didn’t fit right. Customers returned cases suggesting that they might be an early batch of modified cases for the new iPhone. Anyway, a clear light will be shed upon the situation only in October, then Apple reportedly plans to release its next-generation iPhone or iPhones (there are lots of controversial rumors claiming that Apple might release several models of the device: the iPhone 4S alongside the iPhone 5).

Keeping to the Apple’s schedule, the company opens six more stores on this weekend. It starts with the Nanjing East store in China opening tomorrow (Friday, September 23) and then the IFC (Hong Kong), Hornsby (Australia), Centro Sicilia (Italy), New Haven (Connecticut) and Metrotownn (Canada) Apple Stores will open on Saturday. The Nanjing East store (shown above) is the third Apple in Shanghai. IFC store is the first store that locates in Hong Kong. ifoApple Store notes that this store features a unique design:

The rear wall of both levels are glass windows looking out towards the city. On the inside, the lower level has two wide stainless steel walls, with a visitor entrance in the middle. The walls include back-lit display cases promoting Apple’s products. The upper level has an all-glass front window visible from the mall hallway.

BGR claims that Apple will introduce only one new iPhone model, the so-called "iPhone 4S", at its October 4th media event. It sounds reasonable because we still have not seen any sights of a redesigned iPhone 5 coming through supply chain. More specifically, there is a complete lack of such new iPhone 5 parts, suggesting that Apple may be planning to launch only the iPhone 4S as its next-generation iPhone model.

“We expect the focus of the new iPhone will be iOS 5, a speedier A5 processor and a higher resolution 8 MP camera with a small possibility of a larger 4 inch screen. We believe the casing will be largely similar to the iPhone with some particular modifications to the antennae [sic]. We don’t expect a second, dramatically different iPhone to accompany this as we don’t think Apple needs to have 3 models in the market to address the high end, mid-tier and low end since the iPhone 4 (with memory lowered to 8 GB) will drop to $99 and effectively attack those markets.”

Reuters reports that eight French publishers, including sports daily L’Equipe and newspaper Le Figaro, teamed up to strengthen their bargaining power in negotiations with Apple over digital content distributions. The publishers are dissatisfies with Apple’s too high commission of 30% and tight control over magazines and newspapers on iPad.

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Apple will reportedly hold its iPhone 5 media event on October 4th.

While Apple could certainly change its plans anytime, sources said that the October 4 date has been selected by the company to showcase the iPhone 5. Sources added that the plan is now to make the new device available for purchase within a few weeks after the announcement.

Of course, new Apple’s CEO Tim Cook will play a prominent role while the event, although it will be a team presentation. Other executives such as Phil Schiller, Scott Forstall, and Eddy Cue will participate in the keynote. Everybody waits Steve Jobs appearance, but it is still unclear whether he  will appear in the event. During this media event Apple may also announce new iPod touch with minor changes.

Today Adobe announced in a blog that it will add new features to its AIR platform and Flash Player allowing for use of 3D-accelerated graphics in mobile and desktop devices. Also the company notes in a press release:

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On Monday, The Korea Times reported that Samsung had asked a ban on the iPhone 5 sales in Korea. Now Reuters claims that the company has gone further and asked an injunction against the iPhone 5 in Europe. The source that is familiar with the matter reports:

Samsung Electronics Co is considering legal action to ban sales of Apple’s new iPhone, a source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, in what could be its strongest step to defend against claims by the U.S. firm that the South Korean firm had copied its product designs. The source declined to elaborate further on where Samsung planned to take legal actions and the Maeil Business Newspaper reported that the South Korean firm may seek injunction request on Apple’s new iPhone in Europe.

It seems that the Apple’s accusations that Samsung thoroughly copied their iOS mobile devices with the Galaxy smartphone and tablets, initiated a long-lasting confrontation between the companies. And this change in Samsung’s defense only proves that suggestion.

Expecting the Apple’s annual fall press conference, most of the rumors, related to the iPhone and iPod touch, were focused on the next iPhone revision, but we heard very little information about the next-gen iPod touch.  MacRumors has obtained information indicating that the next iPod touch would be little changed. An oleophobic coating for the display and a revised ambient light sensor will be the main differences from the current generation iPod touch. New iPod touch screens could be installed onto the existing fourth-generation iPod touches. Apple is also expected to introduce white model of the device. Leaked white parts for the iPod touched started appearing on different websites in July, suggesting that Apple was working on the white model of the iPod touch. The new models are expected to be announced alongside the iPhone in the first week of October with availability in the middle of the month.

As AUSBT reports, Quantas Airlines is going to launch a six week trial service allowing passengers to watch movies on offered iPad 2. Passengers can use a ‘Q Streaming’ app on iPad 2 to stream movies from in-flight Wi-Fi access points. This six week trial service will be offered only on one Boeing 767-300 that can carry 254 passengers.

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After Apple and Intel made joint announcement of the new Thunderbolt input/output technology, one of the highly anticipated products to work with this technology has been the Little Big Disk from LaCie. This drive, which comes in SSD and HDD variants, in February was announced to be launched in summer, however only now it have eventually arrived at Apple Stores worldwide. LaCie notes:

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As FinancialPost reports, J.P. Morgan’s analyst Mark Morkowitz suggests that Apple will release two models of iPhone in September. The first is the redesigned iPhone 4 -expected iPhone 5 – and the second is a cheap mass market handset with a tentative name “iPhone 4-plus” or “iPhone 4S”.

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9to5Mac reports that Apple indeed prepares two new iPhone models: the "low-end" iPhone 4-look alike, and the teardrop shaped iPhone 5 (see above). iPhone 5 is said to appear only in 2012 due to design and production delays. However this lower-end iPhone (the iPhone 4S) is already being produced in high quantities, with 10 million expected on launch day.

The iPhone 5 itself is a sight to behold, we’ve been told.  It is impossibly light, yet much firmer than Samsung Galaxy phones which are backed in plastic.  The camera rivals point and shoot cameras and will be a major marketing point for this device. It appears that the tear-drop shaped iPhone 5 with larger screen and thinner, rounder body is seeing continued design and production delays, at least on one assembly line (Apple has multiple production sources – Pegatron, Foxconn, etc). We therefore think that iPhone 5 will be delayed slightly at the very least and may see shortages all the way into 2012.

LilyPad looked like the typical iPad case but applies technology based on “solar ink” to continually charge the device. LilyPad can supply power to iPad for about 12 days in common lighting conditions (both indoor and outdoor), before having to charge it from the mains.  
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Apple is reportedly working on a process to merge multiple Apple IDs into a single login. Early developer testing of iOS 5 and iCloud have demonstrated that this issue was major.

TUAW described the problem back in July, and the answer at that time was that there was no way to consolidate Apple IDs:

Some readers have been managing two Apple IDs on purpose and are now frustrated about the fact that Apple is restricting logins for automatic downloads. Others have only just discovered that they have two IDs. Most of them have already contacted Apple, only to be given the same answer without exception: Apple will not consolidate Apple ID accounts.

MacRumors reader Robert emailed Apple CEO Tim Cook about the issue. Apple representative said that they understood the issue and that more people would run into the problem with iCloud, claiming that there is no way yet to combine accounts but revealed they are working on it.

The New York Times' Nick Bilton has heard that the iPhone 5 will be announced in just few weeks.

We’re just weeks away from the announcement of the new Apple iPhone 5, according to an Apple employee who asked not to be named because he was not allowed to speak publicly for the company.

The report also tells us that the next-generation iPhone design is quite similar to various cases and what we’ve heard from anonymous Apple employees.

From descriptions I’ve heard of the new iPhone from Apple employees, the images seemed potentially authentic.

Bilton claim that there is still no information about whether the iPhone 5 will represent a truly updated form factor, but he echoes a number of previous claims that the next-generation iPhone will receive 8-megapixel camera, possibility of near-field communication (NFC) technology for payments, though, it’s unclear whether NFC will arrive in the iPhone 5 or iPhone 6.