WebProNews

Tag: Rumors

  • Are Classified Ads Coming to Your Facebook News Feed? [UPDATED]

    Facebook may be working on a new ad product that will put the company in direct competition with sites like Craigslist and LinkedIn. According to a report from The Daily, Facebook has fast-tracked a new classified ads service that will allow users to populate their friends’ news feeds with postings for a variety of goods and services.

    The report cites two anonymous sources inside Facebook, who independently confirmed that the new classified ads feature is currently in development. Apparently, it’s being called “Marketplace” (for now). Sound familiar? If you remember the term “Facebook Marketplace,” you’re probably in the minority. Facebook previously launched a classified service a few years ago called “Marketplace,” but it is infrequently used. You can access the service here, as it’s now called the “Oodle Marketplace.”

    The new Marketplace product would be much different that the old Marketplace product, as it would rely on social sharing and news feed placement. According to the report, users would be able to create their own mini-classified ads and promote them in their friends’ news feeds. This could mean anything from goods for sale to job offerings to apartment rentals. The sources claim that users would have to pay a small fee ($5 or so) for a goods for sale post, but classifieds like “roommate needed” would be free.

    Of course, having these classifieds pop up in news feeds instead of only accesible via an app would boost their visibility and could possibly turn Facebook into a big player in this arena. These new classifieds would obviously cut into Craigslist’s market share, and possibly LinkedIn’s slice of the job postings pie.

    If you’re thinking “Hey, Facebook already lets me pay to promote posts.” you’d be correct. Facebook opened up their Promoted Posts product to users in early October. As long as you have less than 5,000 friends, you can pay to promote any of your status updates, photo uploads, or events in the hopes that more of your friends will see them.

    So how would classifieds be any different? Apparently, they would have a slightly different look and could possibly allow for post-specific enhancements, like multiple photo view for products or rentals.

    UPDATE: A Facebook spokesperson tells me that “Facebook is not working on a product like the one [I] describe.”

  • James Blunt Quitting Music Headline Draws Twitter Snark

    Having worked in a restaurant with a repeating musical track list during the height of James Blunt mania, I probably heard his hit song “You’re Beautiful” more than the average person. And that’s saying a lot, considering it was everywhere in 2005. Despite being voted one of the most annoying pop songs by Rolling Stone, the track had huge success on the charts and was certified 2x Platinum in the U.S. Say what you want about the song, but you can’t say that it wasn’t popular.

    I’ll refrain from comment.

    Today, James Blunt is in the news not for a new album but because he recently told The Daily Mail that he may be qutting music. Well, kind of.

    “I just want to take some time out for myself…I haven’t got any plans to do more songwriting.”

    Although the quotes hint to a break more than a curtain call, The Daily Mail slapped the story with the word “retire” and it set off a Twitter firestorm. Of course, complete accuracy and context means nothing on Twitter when it comes to pop culture rumors. And because of the network’s ability to take a story and run with it, with a complete disregard to its veracity, we get to reap the benefits in the form of funny tweets. And while this story has much more truth behind it than a celebrity death rumor, Twitter users seem sure that he’ll never pick up an instrument again.

    Twitter users aren’t being very beautiful to Blunt, to put it bluntly. Check out some of the best:

    The artist did post this cryptic Facebook update referencing the Mail article:

    (image)

    James Blunt3 hours ago

    The Mail on Sunday has reported that James Blunt has split up due to musical differences. Neither could be reached for comment due to recording commitments. Powered by socialditto(image)  837 likes ·  130 comments

    Oh well, all is fair in snark and Twitter.

  • Apple Rumored to be Buying Color

    Apple Rumored to be Buying Color

    The last big news from Color, the mobile broadcasting social app startup, was all the way back in May of this year. The company had announced a deal with Verizon (and only Verizon) to allow its subscribers to stream audio for live video broadcasts over its 4G LTE network. Since then, the app has languished in obscurity, and rumors earlier this week held that the startup would be shutting down.

    Today, though, some good news (or at least a sigh of relief) is coming for Color investors. The Next Web is reporting that Apple, the biggest company in the history of companies, is looking to buy Color for its patents and talent. The report cites unnammed “very well placed” sources as saying Color will be bought for a price in the “high double digits.” The company’s investors, which poured more than $40 million in to the company and include large venture capital firms such as Bain Capital Ventures and Sequoia Capital, are reportedly getting a return on their initial funding.

    The Next Web points out that this would not be the first time Apple has bought a company from Color founder Bill Nguyen. Nguyen founded LaLa, a music store and sharing service that Apple acquired in 2009 and promptly shut down.

  • $99 Google Nexus Tablet Still Rumored For This Fall

    The rumors of a $99 Nexus tablet sound almost too good to be true. Such a device would undoubtedly prove to be popular, as the $199 Nexus 7 has already become a force in the mini-tablet market.

    Today, DigiTimes fuled the rumors by reporting again that a $99 Nexus tablet model will be out later “in the fourth quarter of 2012. It also revealed a bit about what might running be inside the tablet.

    With such a low price, it’s unsurprising that the rumored specs for the device are pretty low. The DigiTimes report quotes “Taiwan-based supply chain makers” as saying the tablet is being produced by Quanta Computer, the largest manufacturer of notebook computers in the world. The device reportedly has an ARM single-core 8950 processor and a “HUVA TN” touchscreen panel.

    These low-price tablet rumors are circulating at the same time that photos of upcoming Nexus phones, such as LG’s “Optimus Nexus,” and news of a 10-inch Samsung Nexus tablet are leaking. It appears that Google is following through with its plan to take a more active role in the hardware its Android platform is running. That’s good, since manufacturers and mobile carriers have been agonizingly slow in issuing updates to their devices, which are often shipped loaded with unnecessary UI changes and crapware.

  • iPad Mini Announcement Coming October 23 [RUMOR]

    Last week, rumors held that Apple would be sending out invitations to the iPad Mini announcement event on October 10. That date has come and passed with no word from Apple. So, the Apple rumor mill has kicked into action once again, blaming the delay on production issues and searching for another plausible announcement date for the device.

    Today, All Things D reported that the iPad Mini will be announced at an October 23 event. This would put a launch of the tablet close to Halloween or in early November. Whatever the case, it’s likely that the device will be out before that all-important U.S. shopping day – black Friday.

    All Things D also notes that October 23 is just days before the October 26 release of Microsoft’s Surface hybrid tablet. It only makes sense that Apple would want to steal the thunder from its historical rival, which is beginning to adopt the Apple model with regards to creating hardware for its platforms.

    Though a TechBargains survey showed this week that the iPad Mini isn’t highly desired by consumers, Apple is sure to sell millions of the devices, especially if it is able to price the tablet at a price that is competitive to Amazon’s Kindle Fire lineup or Google’s Nexus 7. Even if it does, rumors hold that Google is ready to unveil a new version of the Nexus 7 at the magic price point of $99.

    It’s shaping up to be an interesting, competitive fall for the tablet manufacturers, and one that could shape the future of the tablet market for years to come.

  • Softbank May Soon Acquire Sprint Nextel

    Softbank May Soon Acquire Sprint Nextel

    Sprint Nextel may soon be acquired by Softbank, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal, which says the Japanese carrier is in “advanced talks” to buy a “substantial stake” in Sprint Nextel in a deal that could exceed $12.8 billion.

    The Journal cites “a person with knowledge of the negotiations” as the source of this info.

    Reuters is also reporting the same news, quoting a Softbank spokesperson as saying that reports of the talks are “based on speculation”.

    The Verge shares a statement from Sprint:

    Sprint is currently engaged in discussions with Softbank regarding a potential substantial investment by Softbank in Sprint. Although there can be no assurances that these discussions will result in any transaction or on what terms any transaction may occur, such a transaction could involve a change of control of Sprint. Sprint does not intend to comment further unless and until an agreement is reached.

    Based on the WSJ’s report, the deal would see Softbank with a 70% stake in Sprint Nextel, and the remainder of the company would be publicly traded.

  • T-Mobile Gets the Galaxy Note II on October 24 [RUMOR]

    T-Mobile Gets the Galaxy Note II on October 24 [RUMOR]

    It’s already known that Samsung will be releasing the Galaxy Note II on every major U.S. carrier, just like it did the Galaxy S III. If history serves a a preview, however, the actual launch date for the extra-large smartphone will be different for every carrier, as will the price and version availability. In other words, it will be a confusing mess.

    Today, the confusion kicks off as TmoNews reports that a leaked photo of a sales preview shows the Galaxy Note II as launching on October 24. The leaked pic also shows that the device will come in gray or white and that it will be running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean when it ships (with Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface running on top of it, no doubt).

    Though this is just a rumor, TmoNews points out that October 24 is the same day that Samsung has teased a big launch event for the Galaxy Note II in New York. Could it be that Samsung has learned from the messy Galaxy S III launch? Have they actually reigned in U.S. carriers, bringing them together for a coordinated, Apple-like product launch?

    The company does expect the Note II to sell over 20 million units, which is as much as the Galaxy S III has sold. Perhaps Samsung has their manufacturing pipelines in overdrive and is ready for a concerted launch effort for their newest (and largest) smartphone.

    (via BGR)

  • Apple Tasks Retail Store Employees with Fixing Maps [RUMOR]

    Apple Tasks Retail Store Employees with Fixing Maps [RUMOR]

    Apple Maps have to get better. Tim Cook knows that they have to get better. In his public apology for the iOS 6 Apple Maps fiasco, he said that “we know that you expect that from us, and we will keep working non-stop until Maps lives up to the same incredibly high standard [as our other products].”

    If sources reported by MacRumors are to be trusted, Apple is tapping a new source to help fix their painfully flawed new maps product: Apple retail store employees.

    According to the report, “multiple sources” have confirmed that certain Apple Stores will dedicate 40 hours a week to the new project, which will ask some retail employees to help look at errors in the app and submit corrections via a “dedicated internal portal” within Apple’s systems.

    Not much else is know about the specifics of the program, for instance exactly how the employees are being tasked with finding errors and suggesting corrections. But at least one store has indicated that 10 employees are going to be a part of it.

    If you’ve had your head in the sand the past couple of weeks, you may not know that Apple Maps (unveiled in the new iOS 6) has hit plenty of snags since launch. Everyone else knows that the new Apple Maps have drawn user ire for broken landscapes, mislabeled locations and landmarks, and a slew of other issues.

    Of course, Apple retail store employees aren’t the only people that have been tasked with improving iOS 6 Maps.

    “The more our customers use our Maps the better it will get and we greatly appreciate all of the feedback we have received from you,” said Cook. With every screw-up that you find and report to Apple, the Maps app will continue to improve.

    Despite the early fumbles by Apple Maps, there may be a silver lining. Apparently, Apple Maps use a significantly lower amount of data than Google Maps. If and when Apple fixes Maps to users’ liking, the data conservation angle may become a big selling point for using the product over the various other reliable maps products in the app ecosystem.

  • iPad Mini Rumor: High Quality Pictures Of The Device Have Surfaced

    A survey from last month found that Apple fans were hoping the iPad Mini would launch alongside the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 launched with the usual aplomb, but we still haven’t heard a thing about the iPad Mini. There are some rumors that invites for an event will go out next week. That’s all well and good, but only actual pictures of the device can satiate the Apple fan’s curiosity. Well, those pictures are now here.

    Fan site UkrainianiPhone got their hands on the rumored iPad Mini and photographed the back panel for all the world to see. Here’s what you’ll be getting if you decide to pick up the black iPad Mini once it launhces:

    iPad Mini Rumors

    A picture of the backplate is nice, but is there anything else? Thankfully tt.mop (via nowhereelse.fr) has pictures of the actual device in stunning clarity. Here are some of the more interesting shots of the device.

    iPad Mini Rumors

    iPad Mini Rumors

    iPad Mini Rumors

    As you can see, the iPad Mini is turning out to be quite the charmer. The slightly larger display size of 7.85-inches definitely helps it stand out among the other 7-inch tablets on the market. Of course, a slightly larger screen doesn’t mean anything until we get to see what the display is actually capable of. Invites for the iPad Mini should be going out on October 10, and we’ll find out soon after if all the hype was worth it.

    For more on the iPad Mini, check out our extensive coverage.

  • iPad Mini Event Invitations Due October 10th [RUMOR]

    They’re coming. We know they’re coming, and we know most of the details, yet Apple continues to tease us with their tight-lipped policy about commenting on leaks. As if Apple’s success hasn’t turned a quarter of the tech press into an Apple leak machine, searching desperately through shipping orders of Chinese Manufacturers. Still, the rumors and leaks keep coming about the iPad mini.

    Today’s latest rumor about the upcoming iPad Mini is that the invitations to the device’s big announcement event are to be mailed out on October 10th. The rumor comes from CNN Money, which cites an unnamed “major Apple investor” who has heard the rumor from multiple other unnamed sources. Based on this prediction CNN estimates that October 17th will be the day of the announcement, and that iPad Minis will hit Apple stores in early November.

    Even if this rumor turns out to be based on nothing in reality, it’s likely to be close to the truth. There isn’t much time left before the holiday shopping season begins, and an announcement in the next five to six weeks is all but certain.

    Though it had always been Apple’s contention that the iPad is the perfect size for a tablet device, the success of Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablets and Google’s Nexus 7 have proven that people also want something smaller and less expensive. Apple’s brand will certainly give the iPad Mini a large chunk of the 7-inch tablet market, but it might not dominate it the way the iPad does the 10-inch market.

    Whether Apple will have enough of the tablets to cover demand is another factor to consider when speculating on the iPad Mini’s potential success. The hype from the iPhone 5 launch has not even died down yet, and some people still can’t get their hands on one. Another huge product launch right before Christmas could drive Apple fans to desperation.

  • Samsung Galaxy S IV to be Revealed in February

    It seems that Samsung is now doing well enough to be worthy of some rumors of the impending announcement of its next Galaxy S smartphone. Usually these types of rumors are reserved for Apple’s iPhones, but it appears that the Galaxy lineup is now prolific enough to rate for months-out rumors.

    Today, ZDNet is reporting that Samsung will reveal the Galaxy S IV at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain next February. ZDNet is citing an anonymous “company official” as saying the device will then be released “a month later at the latest.” A March release date for the Galaxy S IV seems early, but the official is also evidently confident that the new smartphone will be able to compete with the iPhone 5 and told ZDNet that it will be Samsung’s most powerful smartphone to date. Specifically, it is rumored to sport a quad-core processor and a larger 5″ screen with an OLED display.

    If it seems that Samsung’s current flagship Galaxy device, the Galaxy S III, just launched, you are right. In the U.S. at least, it has only been out for around three months, and its launch was less than smooth. Still, in the time it has been available, Samsung claims to have sold 20 million of the devices. That doesn’t touch the expected 250 million iPhone 5’s that are expected to be sold, but it is a sign that Samsung is on the right track with their smartphones.

  • iPhone 5 “Commercial” Pops Up on YouTube

    Is this the official ad for the iPhone 5 that Apple will run following their big announcement tomorrow afternoon? Not likely. But it is a pretty well produced video that outlines many of the possible (probable) specs of the new device.

    “All New Design,” it touts. It then goes on to give an incredibly detailed look into the various specs of Apple’s much-anticipated phone: “Unibody construction, 9mm taller, 22% thinner, 4″ 16:9 widescreen display, next generation LTE wireless communication” and so on and so forth.

    All the while a bouncy song graces the background, one which I can say doesn’t sound too far off something that Apple would throw into an advert. The YouTube description reads that it is the “official video leaked by an anonymous Apple employee.” It’s currently making the rounds on Twitter, although nobody could ever accuse the Twitterverse of much skepticism.

    Check it out for yourself:

    Although it would be a first for Apple to produce a nearly three-minute commercial, it does look like something that they may show as a press companion for their announcement event (maybe, kind of stretching it a bit). We’re still pretty skeptical about it’s legitimacy, however.

    But if you’re looking for a decent rumor roundup that hits a lot of the bases, it’s pretty solid. We’re pretty convinced that the iPhone 5 will include that bigger screen, mini dock connector, and LTE.

    Of course, all will be revealed tomorrow during the official event. We’ll be covering it as it happens, so check back with us tomorrow at 1 pm ET. If you’re still craving iPhone 5 rumors, this is the place to go.

  • Rumored Wii U Specs Leaked Ahead of Announcement

    With the official announcement of the Wii U only days away, it might seem that leaked specs are unneeded. However, gamers in the age of the internet certainly want to know details as soon as possible. So, here is the latest rumor about what hardware the Wii U will be packing.

    Today’s leaked specs come courtesy of the VGleaks website, which cites an anonymous source. It claims the info is from Nintendo’s developer website, but please take all of this info with several handfulls of salt.

    The VGleaks specs show the Wii U coming with and “Espresso” CPU that has “three enhanced Broadway cores.” The GPU is a “GPU7” AMD Radeon HD processor. It will have 8 GB of internal storage, but will support SD cards and external hard drives through its four USB ports. The video output supports 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, and 480i through HDMI, D-Terminal, component video, RGB, S-Video, and AV cords.

    One area that is holding back current consoles from moving toward better graphics and larger worlds is their memory. The Xbox 360 has only 512 MB of RAM. While the PlayStation 3 has the same amount, that console’s architecture splits the memory into two 256 MB chunks that are separately usable by the CPU and GPU. This is rumored to be the reason that the latest Skyrim DLC may never make it to the PS3.

    The VGleaks specs for the Wii U put that system’s RAM at 1 GB, presumably shared. This isn’t likely to be as much RAM as the next-gen Xbox and PlayStation consoles will have, but it doubles the Xbox 360’s RAM and should give developers plenty of resources to work with.

    One big caveat to throw in at this point is that a leaked VPD search last week shows that there will be three different versions of the Wii U to purchase. It seems inconceivable that the $249 version will have the exact same hardware as the $349 version. It’s likely that the VGleaks specs, if true, represent the base system specs and that higher-priced Wii U’s will have a larger hard drive. That, or extra accessories such as a second Wii U GamePad are included with more expensive versions.

    These leaked specs would put Nintendo’s Wii U slightly above current consoles in terms of power, though probably a bit under what Microsoft and Sony have planned for the next generation. All of this meaningless speculation will be put to the test on Thursday, September 13 when Reggie Fils-Aime takes the stage at the Wii U announcement event in New York.

    (via VGleaks)

  • New Lumia Phones Launching in November [RUMOR]

    With all the trouble companies are going through to cram their big product announcements into the week before Apple’s huge iPhone 5 press conference, you might think the companies also have plans to release their products in a similarly competitive time frame. Unfortunately for Windows Phone 8 fans, Nokia didn’t mention any release dates when it announced its slick new Lumia phones.

    Now, rumors have surfaced that the new Nokia smartphones are set for a November launch. Reuters is reporting that unnamed sources at European telecom operators tell them the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 will begin selling sometime in November. It also reports that the price will be comparable to Samsung’s best-selling smartphone, the Galaxy S III.

    The Verge is being even more specific with its launch date rumor. It cites “multiple sources familiar with Nokia’s plans” as saying the Lumia 920 will be launched on AT&T on November 2. It points out, however, that Microsoft and AT&T are in the process of testing the device, and any delays might push back its launch date.

    As Apple’s iPhones and Samsung’s Android smartphones have begun consolidating the smartphone market over the past two years, handset manufacturers such as Nokia and RIM have begun having difficulties competing. As a consequence, Nokia has repositioned itself as the manufacturer of high-end Windows Phone devices. The success of Nokia in the smartphone space now rests with Windows Phone 8. How things shake out this fall will be interesting, though probably predictable.

    (via BGR)

  • iPhone 5 Release Date: Another Source Confirms September 21

    It’s pretty clear now that the iPhone 5 will be unveiled on September 12. Apple has sent out official invitations to an event for that date, with a not-so mysterious “5” in the graphic. As far as the name “iPhone 5” goes, either that’s what it’s going to be called, or Apple is just messing with everybody. Either way, the event is coming.

    The actual release date of the device, however, will be a little bit further away, but it does appear that it will be on September 21 (not that much further away). Last month, TechCrunch reported, citing a “trusted Verizon employee” as its source, that Verizon is having an all-staff vacation blackout from that date through the 30th, and that the 21st will indeed be the launch date.

    Further confirmation seems to have made its way into the press, as GottaBeMobile is now reporting, citing “a trusted source familiar with Apple’s iPhone shipping plans” with confirming that date, a Friday, as the release date. Josh Smith reports:

    Our source tells GottaBeMobile that Apple notified shippers to expect mass shipments of the iPhone 5 on September 21st and shippers are taking steps to make sure enough staff are on hand for the large number of deliveries.

    Consumers may receive iPhone 5 shipment notifications early, but shippers are required to hold the iPhone 5 for delivery on the official iPhone 5 release date.

    Apple is no doubt going to have an incredible quarter, as consumers rush to buy up the new device. It’s almost a given, based on the incredibly consumer interest we’ve seen leading up to the unveiling.

    Last month, the Samsung Galaxy S III topped the iPhone 4S as the top-selling smartphone in the U.S., but Apple will undoubtedly regain the lead once this thing is available. Then the rumored iPad mini will likely follow, and generate yet another significant source of revenue for Apple. It seems that consumers really want that too.

    More on the iPhone 5 here.

  • Next-Gen Xbox Console Could Be Delayed [RUMOR]

    Everyone is expecting a new game console from Microsoft next year. Nintendo is set to kick off the next console cycle with the Wii U later this November. The beautiful games shown at this year’s E3 make it painfully obvious that new hardware is coming soon. The leaks pertaining to the next Xbox, codenamed “Durango,” are becoming more frequent. All the while, retail game sales are down, gamers are waiting out the end of the cycle, and PC gaming is seeing a resurgence.

    All signs point to Microsoft launching a new gaming console next holiday season.

    Today, though, the website SemiAccurate published a story stating that the manufacture of processors for the Durango is going at a snail’s pace. According to the report, the chip is codenamed “Oban” and batches are taking around 8 weeks to manufacture.

    SemiAccurate’s unnamed sources claim that September 2013 is the projected launch date for Microsoft’s new console. Apparently, Microsoft has around two months of give in its semiconductor shipping schedule before the console release date will have to be pushed back. The company is evidently scrambling to find semiconductor fabricators who can expedite the chip manufacturing process. Meanwhile, SemiAccurate is reporting that Microsoft executives are holding the line and claiming that everything is on schedule.

    A delay past the 2013 holiday season would be fairly devastating for Microsoft. As the current console cycle is winding down, gamers are becoming jaded, and retail game sales show it. Also, many of what are sure to be next-gen launch titles have already been shown, meaning that a console delay would also put pressure on Microsoft from third-party game publishers. While not much is yet known or has been leaked about Sony’s next-gen console, it’s a given that any delay on the next Xbox plays to their favor. Looming over all of this are rumors that Valve is fed up with current gaming technology and is ready to make its own gaming hardware. This should frighten Microsoft and Sony, because there could be no exclusive launch title for a console bigger than Half-Life 3.

    (via BGR)

  • iPhone 5 Looks Longer, Thinner in Alleged Boot Video

    A new video has emerged claiming to show the first ever booting up of the new iPhone 5 – and it looks legit (in that the device resembles other leaks and rumored specs).

    After the Apple logo loads, here’s the message displayed by the “iPhone 5”:

    This device is not registered as part of the iPhone Developer Program. If you are a member of the program, please register your device in the @@url@@

    So, here’s the story: A “tipster” came to Chinese tech site Vgooo.com with an iPhone 5 prototype that he “accidentally” discovered while visiting his friend at a Foxconn factory in Jincheng. “Accidentally discovered” or “stole,” it doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that the phone in the video looks exactly like what many of the leaks have already shown us: it’s taller, with a larger screen, a bit thinner, a smaller dock connector.

    And the headphone jack is on the bottom (why, Apple, why?).

    Of course, it’s possible that this could be faked, especially the boot message. Plus, that home button looks really weird. But Mashable is saying that the specifics of the iPhone 5 in the video match up completely with a working model they’ve seen independently. Check it out for yourself:

    You’re looking at the iPhone 5. Or, someone manufactured this out of thin air. Or, Apple is playing an elaborate hoax by leaking various parts and “prototypes.” Either way, we’ll know soon enough. The iPhone 5 event is scheduled for September 12th, and the new device should ship on September 21st. Today, one analyst said that Apple could possibly sell 10 million units in the first week.

    [MIC Gadget via Gizmodo]

  • iPhone 5 Rumor: Nano-SIM Cards Shipped to Retailers [Photos]

    iPhone 5 Rumor: Nano-SIM Cards Shipped to Retailers [Photos]

    Today we’ve already seen leaked video of the iPhone 5’s screen, flex cables, and dock connector port. Now, photos of the iPhone’s new nano-SIM cards are making their way around the internet. It seems every millimeter of the device is likely to be leaked before Apple announces it at an expected event on September 12.

    The above photo comes from a German iPhone blog. Apparently, a wireless carrier employee was able to snap a photo of the card with a micro-SIM next to it for scale. According to the blog, the shipment of the nano-SIMs came with a cover letter that instructed employees not to give the cards out to customers.

    It was already seemingly confirmed last month that the new SIM cards for the iPhone 5 would be nano-SIM card. As seems to be the case since the original iPhone was released back in 2007, it takes a change from Apple to push a new technology forward. Credit card companies and banks are beginning to forge partnerships and make deals for mobile payment systems in anticipation of the iPhone 5, which may or may not have NFC capabilities.

    Oh, and to avoid confusion, while the logo on the SIM card may look like T-Mobile’s it is actually T-Mobile’s parent company Deutsche Telekom. T-Mobile will not be getting the iPhone 5

    (photo courtesy iphone-ticker.de)

  • iPhone 5 Rumor: Apple Designed New Headphones To Launch With The New iPhone

    Despite my feelings in regards to their hardware, Apple makes a fine pair of earbuds. The earbuds that came with my 2nd Gen iPod Nano far outlived the actual iPod. The design of the earbuds were getting a little on in years though. Competitors have already created far superior earbuds in the absence of any real innovation from Apple. That may be changing with the iPhone 5.

    A recent video from Vietnamese site Tinhte.vn discloses what appears to be newly redesigned earbuds from Apple. According to Mac Rumors, the video used to have a person talking over the video while showing off the new headphones.

    As you can obviously hear, there is no sound anymore. The video was replaced with the no sound version for an unexplained reason. Mac Rumors was able to grab a transcript before the sound went down:

    In my hands are the new earphones for the iPhone 5 that is about to come out – Apple’s next generation of iPod [sic]. These will replace the current earphones that are on the market. These are manufactured at Phax Co factory in Vietnam. They have the appearance of a horse’s head, not like earbuds. When they are worn, they have a much smaller profile. They have the appearance of a fully integrated, single unit – there’s no part that looks like it would come apart – not like earbuds; the integrated design is characteristic of Apple products. Here I have the old earphones for comparison. The new ones are much smaller; when they are worn, they do not hurt the way earbuds do. You can see on the old ones the surface is a separate part that looks like it can be detached – not like the small surface of the new one. The old earphones were mostly made in China, with some in Vietnam. But the new ones are clearly made in Vietnam. (Reading from the wires): “Designed by Apple in California, assembled in Vietnam.”

    They look a little uncomfortable, but so do all earbuds. The true test is to actually use them. Apple’s original earbuds passed that test with flying colors a long time ago. If this turns out to be true, we can expecto see the new earbuds launching with the iPhone 5 on September 21. Apple will also probably phase out their old earbud line for the new ones this month.

  • iPhone 5 Rumor: Not Coming to T-Mobile

    Despite the lower prices the network offers for its plans and its soon-to-be unlimited data offerings, T-Mobile subscribers have always had to jump through hoops to get new iPhone models on the carrier’s network, if they could at all. Part of the reason for this is T-Mobile’s lack of a 4G LTE network, though the company is in the process of updating its infrastructure.

    Today, rumors began that the story will be no different for the iPhone 5, and that T-Mobile will not be getting the smartphone. TmoNews got hold of two screenshots of a field sales news memo meant for T-Mobile employees. The pictures insinuate that T-Mobile will not subsidize the iPhone 5 and that it might encourage customers with iPhones to switch.

    A section on employee training priorities for September includes a list of training beats for “Selling Against the iPhone.” The list includes the highlighted date September 21, which is very interesting considering that is the exact date currently rumored for the iPhone 5 release.

    The part about having iPhone customers switch is a bit more complicated. Starting today, T-Mobile stores will have new “Monthly4G SIM kits” that includes a micro SIM kit capable of making the iPhone 4 and 4S compatible with T-Mobile’s network. It could be T-Mobile’s plan to encourage customers to buy a full-priced, unlocked iPhone at an Apple store, then bring the phone to T-Mobile for its lower-priced plans.

    So, T-Mobile subscribers will have to continue not getting Apple’s cutting edge devices. Still, there are plenty of nice Android phones to choose from, and a couple of them will probably rival the iPhone 5 in terms of both hardware and features.

  • iPad Mini Release Date: Apple Will Be Holding Separate Event In October

    September 12 – the date is ingrained into every Apple fans mind. The company is expected to unveil the iPhone 5 at an event that may also play host to other announcements. One of those other announcements was rumored to be the iPad Mini, but a new report suggests that may not be the case.

    AllThingsD spoke to sources who said that Apple will be holding two events this year – one for the iPhone 5 and the other for the iPad Mini. The iPhone 5 event is still planned for September 12 and will obviously be big news. The iPad Mini announcement is reportedly being pushed back to sometime in October.

    Why would Apple hold two separate events when they could pull the one-two punch of an iPhone 5 and iPad Mini reveal at the same event? According to John Gruber, it’s all about Apple not wanting to share the spotlight. The company would want both devices to have ample time to be alone with the press without having to worry about competition from the other.

    If the report ends up being true, it’s an amazingly smart decision on Apple’s part. Many companies in the past have cannibalized their own products by announcing another product too closely to the original. A month difference between the announcement of the iPhone 5 and iPad Mini might even be cutting it a little too close.

    Moving the iPad Mini announcement to October would also give the new device a little bit of breathing room. September is already crowded with events from Microsoft, Nintendo and Amazon. October will probably be free of major announcements allowing the iPad Mini to receive all the media attention.

    The important thing is that Apple will have the iPhone 5 and iPad Mini out in stores before the huge shopping rush in November. They obviously want to capitalize on the holiday season and the iPad Mini has huge potential if its at the right price. A $250 iPad Mini could completely destroy the market that Amazon has built with the Kindle Fire.

    Once again, all of this still a rumor. For all we know, Apple could still announce the iPad Mini on September 12 alongside the iPhone 5. Both devices would have enough power to stand apart in the media coverage, but it would be far more beneficial for both if the announcements were made separately.