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Tag: Rumors

  • New iPhones Will Sport Larger Screens [REPORT]

    Exactly one year ago today, Apple CEO Tim Cook said this during an earnings call:

    “The iPhone 5 offers as you know a new 4-inch Retina display, which is the most advanced display in the industry and no one comes close to matching the level of quality as the Retina display. It also provides a larger screen size for iPhone customers without sacrificing the one-handed ease-of-use that our customers love. So, we put a lot of thinking into screen size and believe we’ve picked the right one.”

    And so Apple stuck with the 4-inch display for the iPhone 5s and 5c. Tim Cook thought is was the right size, and so it was. Of course, some iPhone loyalists would tell you (maybe privately) that what they really wanted was a device with a big ol’ screen – or at least a screen as big as many of the iPhone’s competitors.

    It looks like those people might just get their wish.

    The Wall Street Journal is quoting “people familiar with the situation” who say that the next couple of iPhones, which are due out later this year, will sport larger screens. From the WSJ:

    The people said Apple plans an iPhone model with a screen larger than 4½ inches measured diagonally, and a second version with a display bigger than 5 inches. Until now, Apple’s largest phone has been the 4-inch display on the iPhone 5.

    The sources also indicate that Apple is going to ditch the plastic shell that the iPhone 5c currently rocks. Most would say “good riddance.”

    Apple has a history of lagging behind the competition when it comes to screen sizes. As you probably recall, Apple didn’t even make the jump to 4 inches until the iPhone 5 – the iPhone 4s still sported the comically small 3.5-inch display.

    Of course, this is just one report, but this isn’t the first such report of bigger screens we’ve heard recently. Just a few days ago, a Chinese analyst said that Apple would release two new iPhones this year – one with a 4.7-inch display and the other with a 5.7-inch display.

    Image via Apple

  • Facebook: 2 Simple Reasons Folks May Drop It in 2014

    Facebook has become like the U.S. government: everyone is somewhat dependent on it in some way; and everyone hates it for some reason. Lots of folks are talking about dropping or at least scaling back their Facebook use. This is not a new topic, of course, But here are a few reasons why 2014 may finally be the time to pull the trigger.

    It Could Make You Look Like an Idiot

    2013 was the year of the bullcrap story. Facebook has always been known as a breeding ground for political opinions and rumors that could not pass the Snopes test. But nowadays we’re all getting buffaloed with stories that rang true, even got major media coverage, but turned out to be not quite what they seemed.

    Remember that gay waitress who got no tip and a rude note from a Christian customer? Did you ever hear the rest of the tale?

    Did you accidentally spread a pregnancy rumor this year? How about a resurrection rumor? A sex-change rumor?

    It’s easy for anyone to get duped, even in the Information Age. But Facebook bypasses all verification and sends rumor into overdrive.

    No One Would Blame You

    Personal contact is back in vogue – We’re all tired of the impersonal feel of likes and pokes. It’s time to get back to being real people. For crying out loud, at least send a text.

    Facebook drove its own nail into that coffin, raising the height of the wall around its garden, when they replaced the email address you initially put on your profile with one of their own. Trouble is, Facebook’s so-called “inbox” has none of the features of any bona fide email service. Notifications are spotty, there is no tagging or folder options, and you can’t leave an “away” message. Go back to your profile and put your real email address back in there. Then take your conversation away from the spying eyes of Facebook. Google is spy enough.

    FB has passed its must-have stage. If you decided to drop it, but let it be known that you were accessible by other means, your friends would not revolt. One idea is to keep your account, set your visibility to “Friends Only”, then make a profile pic that announces your (real) email address to your friends. Then you can say, “Sayonara!” for weeks at a time. Facebook will email you with new friend requests or direct messages. The freedom of unplugging is exhilarating.

    An Alternative To Going Cold Turkey

    One thing that lots of people are trying is to take a Facebook Hiatus for a week at a time. See how your life feels. If you’re still not old enough to pay for your own car insurance, it may feel like hell. But if your priorities are a bit more adult, you just may find Facebook feels just as “greasy kids’ stuff” as Myspace of old.

    Have you cut the apron strings from FB? Let us know in the comments.

    Image via: Wikimedia

  • Red Lobster Closing Rumors Put to Bed

    Red Lobster Closing Rumors Put to Bed

    It looks like Red Lobster fans can relax, just a little. Despite rabid internet rumors that the seafood chain is closing down, owner Darden Restaurants Inc., claim otherwise. The rumors started a few days ago when LA Weekly posted an article about the uncertain future of Red Lobster.

    The article was subsequently edited because it did not get all the facts straight. But one thing is for certain, a lot of people have the seafood lover in them. Since the article was posted on December 23rd (and many articles about the potential closing followed), Red Lobster has been the number one trending topic on Yahoo.

    Of course, Twitter users have also had their say.

    Darden’s Twitter response:

    So what’s the latest story? Is Red Lobster really closing or isn’t it? Not according to Darden, which is one of the largest casual dining companies in the country. They also own Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and The Capital Grille among others. Darden spokesman, Rich Jeffers, stated that the company does want to sell or spin Red Lobster, however, they have no intention of closing down the restaurant chain.

    The company is worth nearly $7 billion, but the health of their financial future is clearly in jeopardy. The Orlando-based Fortune 500 company had a 31 percent drop in net earnings last quarter alone. Red Lobster currently has 705 operating restaurants in the United States and Canada.

    Image via Facebook

  • Dean McDermott’s Sexless Marriage Leads To Cheating

    Tori Spelling, best know for her role as Donna on Beverly Hills 90210, is trying her best to avoid the cheating rumors that are circulating about her husband Dean McDermott.

    According to Emily Goodhand, 28, a woman that McDermott met earlier this month, she and McDermott had sex on December 6 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto while he was promoting his show, “Chopped Canada.” Apparently, McDermott met Goodhand through mutual friends, and invited her to his hotel room where she stayed for two nights. “He told me he and Tori had a sexless marriage,” Goodhand said. “I believed him.”

    Despite the rumors, Spelling was determined to celebrate the holidays as normally as possible. She even posted a Christmas picture of her four young children Liam, 6, Stella, 5, Hattie, 2, and Finn, 16 months, and a Christmas message to all of her friends and family on her personal blog.

    Merry Christmas everyone!
    I wanted to take a minute to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas, and for those of you who don’t celebrate Christmas, a very happy holiday season! As another year comes to a close, I can’t help but feel so grateful for all of my blessings. My beautiful family, my amazing friends, and of course, all of you!
    We’re spending the day together – cuddling, cooking, baking, unwrapping gifts, eating, watching movies and counting our blessings…
    How are you spending Christmas Day?
    Love,
    T, Dean, Liam, Stella, Hattie + Finn

    (image)

    “She is refusing to comment on the cheating rumors publicly, even though she believes Dean did cheat on her,” an inside source told RadarOnline. “Tori is obsessed with having a picture perfect family, and thinks it’s a big part of her image. Commenting or addressing the cheating would taint that image. Things are very tense in the house right now, and Tori is making Dean’s life hell.” Reps for Spelling and McDermott have denied any comments on the situation.

    Image via Twitter, Twitter

  • Twitter Letting You Edit Tweets Would Be Crazy, Right?

    Facebook finally let you do it a few months ago – why not Twitter? Rumor has it that Twitter may be working on a feature that would allow you to edit your tweets after the fact – you know, after they’ve already been retweeted in the world’s largest pool of disinformation.

    Ok – that would, unequivocally, be one of the craziest things ever. Is it likely to happen? Well, we have some conflicting reports.

    The whole rumor started with Matthew Keys, writing for The Desk. Here’s what he had to say, quoting three sources familiar with the matter:

    Once a user publishes a tweet, an “edit” feature will be present for a limited amount of time (Twitter is still currently working out the length of time the feature would be available). The feature would allow a user to make “slight changes” to the contents of a tweet, such a removing a word, correcting a typo or adding one or two additional words.

    An edit could only be performed once per tweet. Once the edit is made, it would be immediately visible on that user’s Twitter feed. The edit would also show up on the feed of anyone who re-published the tweet using Twitter’s built-in “re-tweet” feature.

    Apart from the limitations on editing windows and number of edits, Keys also says that Twitter is working on an algorithm that would be able to determine whether or not the general intent of the tweet had been altered by the edit and act appropriately – I guess to catch a scenario where some user completely alters the meaning of a tweet with a very small edit.

    Adding an “e” to an “I LOVE RAP” tweet or something.

    Apparently, this has been a “top priority” at Twitter for months.

    Or has it?

    Jennifer Van Grove over at CNET is saying the exact opposite. Quoting sources familiar with the matter, she says that Twitter is not actively exploring a post-edit feature.

    And here’s what Wired writer Mat Honan had to say:

    Ok. Let’s talk this out. Even with limits on have many characters a user could edit after the fact and a small window for making the edit, users would have the ability to completely alter tweets. Oh, President Jack Smith is not dead? Wait, President Jack Smith is dead. That’s a pretty small edit and a pretty big shift in meaning.

    And it’s all of the retweets that make this idea sound kooky. If an edited tweet did in fact also change on everyone’s timeline who retweeted it – wow. Just think about the implications of this. You think misinformation travels fast on Twitter now? Holy shit.

    An algorithm to catch tweets that have been maliciously altered? Ok, sounds good. It also sounds hard.

    The only way I can see this not causing a boatload of trouble is if Twitter somehow marked any edited tweet or retweet with the equivalent of crime scene tape. “EDITED EDITED EDITED” pasted across the tweet in giant, yellow letters. You think a little icon in the corner that says “edited” is going to catch the eye of a Twitter population ready to crucify someone for some crazy tweet?

    For now, I think it’s best to just stick to deleting erroneous tweets or tweeting a follow-up correction. But who knows? Twitter may actually be thinking about this. It’s not like they haven’t done some crazy stuff before – I mean, just last week they tried to make it so you couldn’t really block another user.

  • Yahoo Said To Be Eyeing Imgur Acquisition (Imgur: No Story Here)

    Yahoo Said To Be Eyeing Imgur Acquisition (Imgur: No Story Here)

    Update: When asked for comment, a spokesperson for Imgur tells us, “There really isn’t any story there.”

    Yahoo is reportedly trying to buy Imgur. At least it has been trying. It’s unclear whether or not the two companies are still talking.

    Business Insider’s Nicholas Carlson (author of The Truth About Marissa Mayer: An Unauthorized Biography) reports, citing “a source with first-hand knowledge” of the discussion, that Yahoo began “serious talks” to buy Imgur this fall.

    This follows a report from All Things D a few months ago, which also indicated that Yahoo was interested in the company with which it had already partnered on hosting.

    A Yahoo acquisition of Imgur would be fairly reminiscent of its acquisition of Tumblr. Both services are highly trafficked, highly social, and full of gifs, and Imgur gets an incredible amount of traffic from reddit, making it all the more attractive.

    In September, Imgur reached 100,000,000 unique monthly users. The company said the milestone puts it among the top Internet properties in the world.

    The iOS app, by that point, had already been downloaded 92,000 times, and the Android app 200,000 times. The Android app launched in June, and the iOS app in August.

    “The insatiable demand for visual content – and our relentless need to share images – shows no signs of letting up,” a spokesperson for the company told us at the time. “This is driving massive growth Imgur, which has quickly become a content hub for this visual explosion.”

    “Since day one, we’ve dedicated ourselves to building the best possible user experience for Imgurians,” said CEO Alan Schaaf. “We prioritize our creative community and encourage them to take charge of their experience. With the help of this amazing community and their feedback, we’re making sure this experience stays awesome as we grow and evolve, and we appreciate their support in helping us reach this incredible milestone.”

    We spoke with Schaaf about the company, its relationship with reddit, and its apps in an interview earlier this year.

    We’ve reached out to Imgur for comment, and will update if and when we hear back.

    Yahoo has already acquired at least 24 companies this year. Last week, it picked up Ptch, once called the “Instagram of Video”.

    Yahoo of course already has a massively popular photo sharing site with Flickr. It would be interesting to see if the company would integrate the two properties.

    Image: Imgur.com

  • Kelly Clarkson Slams Cheating Rumors Via Twitter

    Kelly Clarkson has been making headlines lately, but not for the typical celebrity gossip…until now. Not only did Clarkson marry her long-time boyfriend and manager’s son, Brandon Blackstock back in October, she announced that she was expecting her first child with Blackstock in November. Just when things seem too good to be true, rumors have started circulating that Blackstock has been cheating on his new bride.

    Clarkson immediately took to Twitter to set the record straight. “Keep hearing random rumors of me & Brandon splitting or that’s he’s cheating on me. Stop with all the lying please #aintnobodygottimeforthat,” she wrote. She later wrote, “False rumors don’t bother me & Brandon but they do affect the lives of our 12 & 7 yr old. They’re kids and don’t get that people can print lies.”

    Blackstock also took to Twitter to acknowledge the rumors with a bit of humor. “It’s sad how low life’s make up rumors about @BBlackstock,” Blackstock wrote. “But it makes for great reading while on the s–tter.”

    Surprisingly, Blackstock’s ex-wife, Melissa Ashworth, also came to Blackstock’s defense saying that he had always been an amazing father and had never been unfaithful to her. “This is ridiculous,” Ashworth told Radar Online. “I have my two children right here, who I love. She added, “I adore Kelly and Brandon has a couple, so if I say anything it’s going to be positive.”

    Image via Twitter

  • Jada Pinkett Smith: Is Will Cheating On Her?

    Rumors have been swirling more strongly than ever the past few months that Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith are having trouble in paradise. First there were divorce rumors in April 2012. Then rumors began again when it was thought that Will and Jada had an open marriage. This was followed by rumors in September that Jada was moving out of the family home. She added more fuel to the fire when she posted a “letter to a friend” on her Facebook concerning divorce.

    Through all these rumors, both Smith camps have denied the couple are on the rocks. One insider recently told US Weekly, “Everything with them is great.”

    Rumors of a trial separation have started again after Jada was seen sporting a new ‘do – sans wedding ring – at the Make Equality Reality event in Hollywood.

    (image)
    [Image via YouTube.]

    And something else making people believe there is an end in sight for the couple – cheating rumors. Star magazine (insanely credible, I know) are reporting that Will took some compromising photos with his current Focus co-star, 23-year-old Margot Robbie.

    Apparently, on October 25, while in New Orleans, Will and Margot hopped into a photo booth at a party – Will was shirtless and Margot lifted up her shirt to show off her lingerie.

    An “eyewitness” told the rag, “Once they pulled the curtain back to take the pictures, they let their inhibitions run wild, laughing, hugging and muzzling each other in the dark.”

    The duo didn’t even take the photos, which Star magazine somehow got their hands on.

    Insiders gave a different story to US Weekly.

    “They’re not hooking up,” said the insider, adding, “That was a photo booth on set that the producers got for everyone. It was the last day of filming and everyone was taking pictures. They were just goofing around. Will is just like that. There’s nothing more to it.”

    What may seem like trouble to outsiders may not be a problem for Will and Jada. It’s their relationship, and only they can decide what is best for them.

    Jada recently posted a somewhat cryptic message on her Facebook.

    Post by Jada Pinkett Smith.

    And even in July, when rumors were still abound, Jada told Redbook that it would take quite a lot for her to “abandon” her husband. “I have been affected by gossip and I know people who have been, too. I’ve seen marriages destroyed by gossip. It is cruel. At the end of the day, all that matters is: Do you love what you see when you look in the mirror? That is it, baby,” said Jada, adding, “What is the thing that Will could do to make me not love him? That would make me abandon him? I can’t think of one. I’m sorry. Except if he did something bad to the kids — now we’ve got a problem.”

    [Image via YouTube.]

  • Google, LG May Be Teaming Up On A Tablet [Rumor]

    Last week, LG and Google released the Nexus 5 – the latest device to come out of a partnership that started with last year’s Nexus 4. Now it looks like the two may be working together on another mobile device.

    Blog of Mobile recently reported that a new LG device has just gone through Bluetooth certification. The device – simply called LG-V510 – has some speculating that it could be a Nexus 8. After all, the LG-V500 is the design name given to LG’s G Pad – an 8.3-inch tablet. The similarity between the two has many wondering if Google will release an 8-inch tablet this year despite already releasing a new Nexus 7 back in July.

    Adding to the speculation is an image that has popped up on the official Android Web site. Under the Apps & Entertainment section, there’s an image of a woman with a tablet that nobody has seen before. It’s too big to be a Nexus 7 and too small to be a Nexus 10; thus ArsTechnica suggests that it may be the Nexus 8.

    Google, LG Team Up On A Tablet

    What makes this more suspicious, however, is the image has been subtly changed. Instead of the tablet that you see above, the image has been modified to feature the same woman now holding a Nexus 7. There’s a pretty significant difference between the two:

    Google, LG Teaming Up On Tablet

    If Google and LG are releasing a Nexus 8, it will most certainly be based on the G Pad. If true, the Nexus 8 will feature an 8.3-inch 1920×1200 display, a 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 CPU, 2GB of RAM, 5MP rear camera, 1.3MP front camera, 4600mAh battery and Android 4.4.

    It’s definitely a nice tablet, but one has to wonder why Google would even bother with refreshing the Nexus 7 line if it was going to release the Nexus 8 just a few months later. If all the above is true, the Nexus 8 will be better than the Nexus 7 in pretty much every way, and the low price of Nexus devices will ensure that it’s relatively affordable.

    Another thing to keep in mind among all the rumors is that Google still has yet to refresh the Nexus 10. Last year’s Nexus 10 was released alongside the Nexus 4, but Google decided to not refresh both devices this year when it revealed the Nexus 5 last week. That could mean Google really is moving Nexus 10 production to Asus as a recent leak suggested, and that could have pushed back the release by any number of weeks or months. DroidLife may be right on the money when it suggests Google may unveil the Nexus 8 and Nexus 10 at the same time. The only question now is when, and for that, there is no easy answer.

    [Image: Android]

  • Katherine Webb And AJ McCarron Did Not Break Up

    Despite what some of you may have heard, Katherine Webb and her boyfriend AJ McCarron have not broken up. Webb is a model, beauty queen and TV personality. She gained the attention of much of the country when appearing in the crowd during the 2012 BCS National Championship Game. The former Miss Alabama’s appearance was significant after being presented as AJ McCarron’s girlfriend, who is the star quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

    Webb jumped to a whole new level of fame, after getting coverage on the BCS National Championship Game and guys all over the country were immediately jealous of the star quarterback’s gal. After this, she also received several modeling deals and even an appearance on Splash, a reality show on ABC.

    Recently, multiple news outlets have declared that the couple have broken up, but Webb came out and officially denied that rumor. Radar Online initially broke the story of their break up and has since had to update that with the real story. Her and McCarron are still very happy together, but it seems that the rumor may have started from Webb not appearing at some of McCarron’s games. He has simply been busy in an active football season and she has been away working as a model. While McCarron is still a student and also has to go on the road some of the time to play his football games, Webb is currently in New York City for a fashion shoot, according to E Online.

    Webb and McCarron were both shocked to hear that they had broken up and after fans of both of theirs reacted strongly to the news over twitter, they chimed in themselves, denying the rumors. Webb recently appeared on the cover of Access Magazine, along with McCarron’s mother, Dee Dee Bonner, being labeled as Football’s Femme Fatales, according to Bleacher Report. This hardly seems like the thing one would do if they were on the verge of a break-up.

    They were even rumored to be nearing an engagement previously but she has downplayed that and explained “I promise you, you guys will know when that time comes.” The couple continues to play it casual as McCarron finishes up his time in school and will likely head to the NFL after his senior season. Alabama is currently No.1 in the country and they won the national championship under coach Nick Saban in 2011 and 2012, and hope to do it again this year.

    Image via Youtube

  • Ewan McGregor Would Play Obi Wan In Star Wars VII If Asked

    With the release date for Star Wars Episode VII in 2015 drawing closer and closer, there have been a lot of rumors floating around the web relating to who will be starring in the new J.J. Abrams version of the famous sci-fi saga. One of the rumors that has been recently spreading is if Benedict Cumberbatch will star in the new version, along with Ewan McGregor, who played the young Obi Wan Kenobi in the first three episodes of the George Lucas saga.

    This past Thursday (September 12, 2013), the Scotland-born actor told E! News that he has not been asked by Abrams to star, but if McGregor did receive a call inviting him to continue playing the role of Obi Wan Kenobi, he would gladly accept the honor.

    According to IMDb, the other main Star Wars characters, such as: Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Lando Calrissian, and C-3PO are all rumored to make an appearance in the new Abrams film. Also, according to IMDb, the site lists Carrie Fisher’s role as “Leia Solo,” which means it would continue on from Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.

    Ewan McGregor’s role of Obi Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars films is quite unique. On the Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith – Web Documentaries of Revenge of the Sith DVD, McGregor discussed that he made a special effort to learn the “mannerisms, speech timings, and accents” to closely resemble the actor who originally played Kenobi, Alec Guiness.

    Currently, Ewan McGregor is working on August: Osage County, starring Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. August: Osage County will be released in theatres on January 2nd, 2014 (Source: IMDb).

    [Image source: Wikimedia Commons]

  • Maria Sharapova Denies Engagement Rumors

    Tennis star Maria Sharapova didn’t play in the US Open last week, but she’s managed to stay in the spotlight nonetheless.

    As her official Twitter feed indicates, she’s been making the talk show rounds, and attending New York Fashion week events:

    Sharapova took advantage of her appearance on Larry King Live, to dispel rumors of her recent engagement to boyfriend Grigor Dimitrov: “No I’m not getting married. Not that I know of.”

    Dimitrov is a Bulgarian-born professional tennis player who lives in Stockholm, Sweden. He is currently the No. 29 ranked male tennis player in the world.

    Sharapova, four-time Grand Slam winner, pulled out of the US Open because of a shoulder injury. Rumors have swirled around the Russian beauty since her early exit from Wimbledon in June. Besides being involved in a fairly public war of words with rival Serena Williams, Sharapova made headlines in mid-August when she fired her coach Jimmy Connors a mere 34 days after hiring him.

    She was expected to enter the US Open, which commenced August 26, without a coach.

    Amidst it all, Sharapova launched her Sugarpova accessory line at Henri Bendel in New York City on August 21:

    photo credit

  • New Apple TV Could Launch As Early As Next Month [Report]

    Just yesterday, we heard reports that Apple would be pushing an Apple TV software update alongside its planned iOS 7 update on September 18. Now it appears that some new Apple TV hardware might be headed our way as well.

    TechCrunch columnist MG Siegler teased on Twitter last night that Apple would have some new Apple TV hardware ready to show in October:

    If he’s right, Apple will probably unveil the new Apple TV hardware at the same event that it’s rumored to reveal the new iPad and iPad Mini. With both devices sharing the same event, Apple could also be using it to announce some new sharing capabilities between the iPad and Apple TV.

    If the report form yesterday was on the money, we already know that next week’s rumored Apple TV update will add the ability to stream content to an Apple TV that’s not yours via AirPlay. With the new Apple TV, the company might add even more sharing functionality between its devices.

    Like always, the reports of a new Apple TV cause some to think that Apple will finally unveil a proper HDTV set. The persistent rumors show no sign of letting up, and each new Apple TV rumor just adds more fuel to the fire. If a new Apple TV is to be shown next month, however, you’d best not get your hopes up. The latest Apple HDTV rumor says that we’re not getting a proper TV from the Cupertino-based company until at least the first half of 2014.

    Still, a new Apple TV set top box is exciting news for those who have been waiting for a new model since the model released earlier this year was merely a minor revision to the Apple TV released in 2012. With its latest hardware update, Apple may have the power necessary to push even better content to consumers’ TVs.

    [Image: Apple]
    [h/t: 9to5Mac]

  • Is This What The iPhone 5S Looks Like? [Rumor]

    At 1 p.m. EST today, Apple will unveil its latest iPhone to the world. It’s accepted at this point that the phone will be called the iPhone 5S, and will look very similar to the current iPhone 5. What we don’t know is what the iPhone 5S actually looks like, but a new leak may have provided the answer.

    French Web site nowhereelse.fr has shared a render of the iPhone 5S that it obtained from one of its sources. The image looks legitimate enough, and seems to match up pretty well with what we’ve heard about the device thus far.

    The major difference between the iPhone 5 and the 5S is that it now has a circular home button. The render also shows that the home button now doubles as a Touch ID sensor. If true, the below render confirms the oft-rumored fingerprint sensor.

    Is This What The iPhone 5S Looks Like?

    Whether or not this turns out to be the iPhone 5S, you can expect something that looks very similar to the iPhone 5. It will probably receive a bump in specs, but nothing that extraordinary. By most accounts, it’s looking like the star of the show will be the new fingerprint sensor. The company called NFC a fad back in June so it will have to prove to us today that its inclusion of a fingerprint sensor isn’t just that – a fad destined for irrelevance.

    [h/t: Engadget]
    [Image: nowhereelse.fr]

  • iPhone 5S Chinese Release Date Expected To Be In November

    The iPhone 5S anticipation is building up around the world, as the expected unveiling event for the device approaches. Apple is expected to show it off on September 10th, and while we don’t know the actual release date yet, rumor has it that it will hit China in November.

    CNET points to a report from China’s First Financial Daily (in Chinese) that indicates the iPhone 5S will see a November 28th Chinese release. According to CNET, the date has also been reported by BrightWire News, citing a telecommunications expert.

    The main global launch has been rumored to come on September 20th, but this obviously isn’t confirmed. We’ll find out soon enough.

    As usual, Apple’s next iPhone device has been the subject of many rumors. Some of them will be proven right, and others will be found false at the company’s September 10th event.

    The latest rumors have the device supporting motion tracking, and an A7 chip making it a reported 31% faster than the iPhone 5.

    Another longstanding rumor has Apple putting out a less expensive model of its flagship smartphone, which is frequently being called the iPhone 5C. This is expected to come in a broader range of colors, possibly even including a gold color that has graced one of the company’s iPod Mini models in the past.

    More on some of the recent iPhone rumors here.

    Image: Apple

  • iPhone 5S Rumor Has The Device Supporting Motion Tracking, Being 31% Faster

    As we get closer to the expected unveiling, more rumors continue to trickle out about the next iPhone device, typically referred to as the iPhone 5S.

    The latest comes from Clayton Morris at Fox News, who tweeted that its chip will run about 31% faster than the chip used in the iPhone 5.

    According to him, or at least his sources, the device will also support motion tracking:

    While that’s the extent of what we know about any possible motion tracking support, MacRumors speculates that Apple could use this for motion gestures like on Samsung’s Galaxy S phones, pointing to a Bloomberg profile of Jony Ive from earlier this year talking about interest in altering how people control their computers, and how Ive met with makers of gesture technology that lets people navigate their gadgets by moving their hands without touching the screen.

    9to5Mac says it has heard independently that “some of the iPhone 5S internal prototypes” have included 64-bit processors, which “will assist the A7 chip in making animations, transparencies, and other iOS 7 graphical effects appear much more smoothly than on existing iOS devices.”

    More recent rumors about the device here.

    Apple has an event scheduled for September 10th, when the iPhone 5S, as well as “iPhone 5C” (as it’s often referred to) are expected to be unveiled.

  • Apple HDTV Development Still Being Rumored

    As far back as the spring of 2011 Apple has been rumored to have been working on an all-in-one HDTV. The device has been rumored to be many different things, with rumors making it seem to be the miracle device that would break local cable company monopolies across the U.S.

    Though rumors of this “iTV” have gone so far as to suggest production was underway, the device has consistently failed to surface. Rumors alternately predicting imminent launches and months-long delays have all proven false. The latest delay rumor hinted that Apple had failed to secure content for the iTV, running into the wall cable companies have built around their content distribution schemes.

    This week, fresh iTV rumors have surfaced from Taiwan’s Economic Daily News. The report, translated by MacRumors, asserts that Apple is now partnering with Corning, Foxconn, G-Tech Optoelectronics, and Innolux to develop an HDTV. The report’s unnamed industry sources stated that these companies med two weeks ago to iron out details on the device’s display.

    The report also provided fresh rumors about the iTV’s hardware. The device will reportedly come in 55-inch and 60-inch models sporting Gorilla-Glass displays. In addition, the rumored release date for the iTV can now be officially pushed back to the first half of 2014.

    (Economic Daily News via MacRumors)

  • Asus to Release a Chromebook This Year [RUMOR]

    With notebook shipments falling along with the rest of the PC market, PC manufacturers are not looking to smaller PCs and tablets to shore up business. Chromebooks, which are generally small and inexpensive are one of the only segments of the PC market that are actually seeing growth. With these facts in mind, it’s not surprising that PC manufacturer Asus is now rumored to be preparing a Chromebook for release before the end of the year.

    DigiTimes this week reported that Asus is preparing to release its first Chromebook during the fourth quarter of 2013. The report’s unnamed “sources from the upstream supply chain” are cited as saying Asus is expecting to sell limited volumes of the notebooks in the education sector.

    This news comes just as Asus has revised down its estimates for this year’s notebook shipments. According to DigiTimes, the manufacturer now expects to only ship 17 to 19 million notebooks, down from estimates as high as 24 million earlier this year. Asus is now reportedly focusing on non-touchscreen notebooks, though it is expected to announce a refreshed lineup of hybrid notebook/tablet devices in September.

    Asus already has a close relationship with Google as the manufacturer behind the Nexus 7. The first version of Google’s mini-tablet sold well, despite competition from the iPad Mini and Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablets. Even with the mini-tablet market now more crowded than ever, Asus is expecting to sell well over 3 million of its refreshed Nexus 7 tablets this year.

    (via DigiTimes)

  • BlackBerry Could Be Sold Off in Pieces

    BlackBerry Could Be Sold Off in Pieces

    Earlier this week, BlackBerry announced that the company was exploring “strategic alternatives.” Though the company stated it will be exploring possible joint ventures or strategic partnerships, it also expressed a willingness to take offers for the business itself. The announcement confirmed what analysts and industry watchers had known for some time – that BlackBerry’s decision to double-down on high-end BlackBerry 10 smartphones in an effort to compete with Apple and Samsung was a poor one.

    While speculation runs rampant about who might possibly want to buy BlackBerry, another possibility has presented itself. DigiTimes today is reporting that BlackBerry could end up being sold piecemeal. According to the reports unnamed “sources at Taiwan handset makers,” that possibility is actually higher than the company being sold as a whole.

    Acquiring BlackBerry might be a losing proposition for any entity that might buy it. The BlackBerry 10 platform has proved to be a failure, and the company’s subscriber numbers are falling rapidly. Keeping the BlackBerry handset business alive would cost billions.

    In contrast, BlackBerry undoubtedly has a stockpile of high-value patents, particularly when it comes to mobile enterprise. DigiTimes mentions Samsung and Amazon as possible buyers for BlackBerry patents, though Apple, Google, and Microsoft could also find value in them. In addition to its patents, BlackBerry’s enterprise services division, along with BlackBerry Messenger, could prove valuable to companies serving the business sector. IBM and Cisco were mentioned in the report as parties that might be interested in such services.

    (via DigiTimes)

  • iPhone 5S Rumor: Production Slow Due to Fingerprint Sensors

    As with the launch of every new iPhone model, millions of people around the world will be clamoring to get their hands on the new device. This year, however, relatively few Apple fans will be able to get their hands on the iPhone 5S, if new production rumors out of Taiwan are to be believed.

    DigiTimes is reporting that only 3 to 4 million iPhone 5S units will be available during the smartphone’s launch quarter later this fall. The report cites unnamed “industry sources” as saying slow production of the fingerprint sensor equipment long rumored to be a part of the new iPhone will limit stock this year. Apple and its suppliers were reportedly preparing to have 10 million iPhone 5S units available during the third quarter of 2013.

    The report specifically states that the production is slow due to low yield rates of the sensors’ packaging, as well as “issues” integrating iOS 7 with the sensors. Apple and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the company manufacturing the sensors, have reportedly sent and engineering team to improve yields at the facility packaging the sensors.

    Though production of the sensors was expected to begin in May, DigiTimes sources now put full production closer to the end of August. This is expected to propel shipments of the new iPhone into the tens of millions during the fourth quarter of 2013.

    (via DigiTimes)

  • Next iPad Will Reportedly Utilize iPad Mini-Like Touch Panel

    There’s news out in the iPad rumors department. The Wall Street Journal is reporting today, based on information from “people with knowledge of the matter” that Apple’s next iPad model will make use of the same touch-panel technology the company used in the iPad Mini allowing the device to be light and thin.

    The new iPad is reportedly in production as we speak. As noted by iSuppli (via The WSJ):

    The defining feature of the iPad mini is its 7.9-inch display, larger than comparable 7.x-inch tablets, whose displays are nearly 1-inch smaller, at just 7.0-inches. The iPad mini employs GF2 multi-touch touchscreen technology, which allows the touchscreen module to be thinner than competing tablets. However, the new GF2 technology also makes manufacturing more challenging during initial production by reducing manufacturing yields.

    That report also notes that this all drove up the price for the touchscreen module.

    The iPad Mini itself managed to overcome skepticism and become a popular model for Apple.

    Other rumors have been circulating that the company is also working on larger iPhones and iPads, and that a new iPad Mini model will be revealed in 2014.

    In the meantime, the iPhone 5S is expected to be unveiled at a September 10th event.

    Tablet sales are expected to pick up later this year, though Android tablet shipments have reportedly doubled in the past year.

    Apple reported its quarterly earnings last month, noting that iPad sales were down to to 14.6 million units compared to last year’s 17 million units.