Rumour » Gadgetorama

Rumour: Next Apple iPhone to sport 4-inch display

May 162012

Apple Two independent reports are today suggesting that Apple’s next iPhone will sport a display measuring “at least 4 inches diagonally.” Both The Wall Street Journal and Reuters indicate that Apple has placed orders for the larger displays with Asian suppliers. Korea’s LG Display Co Ltd, Sharp Corp and Japan Display Inc. will all reportedly begin production in June so that the new iPhone can begin production in August.

The move is seen as Apple’s response to customers’ increasing demand for larger displays. Apple has only used 3.5-inch displays for its iPhone models while its competitors have move to increasingly larger displays (such as the 4.8-inch one on the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S III and the 5.3-inch one on the Samsung Galaxy Note).

Rumours of a larger display for the next iPhone have swirled for some time (even suggesting a 4.6-inch display). There have also been contradictory rumours suggesting that Apple would once again go with a 3.5-inch display. Perhaps the rumoured smaller iPhone will use the 3.5-inch display while the iPhone gets the larger display.

It remains to be seen if Apple will unveil its latest iPhone at next month’s WWDC or if it will stick to a fall schedule like last year.

Read more: The Wall Street Journal and Reuters

ASUS planning PadFone 2 with 4G LTE connectivity

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 152012

The ASUS PadFone has yet to be released (despite being announced not just once but twice) but that has not stopped ASUS from planning a follow-up. The PadFone, billed as a 3-in-1 device, allows you to dock a 4.3-inch smartphone into a PadFone Station to transform it into a 10.1-inch tablet. Mention of a PadFone 2 turned up on a slide during an ASUS employee strategy debriefing.

ASUS Padfone 2 coming soon?

Little is known about this second version but it should be quite similar but add 4G LTE connectivity.

There is no word yet on availability and pricing of the ASUS PadFone 2.

Read more: Android Tablet Blog (Source: Phandroid)

Vodafone accidentally reveals HTC Desire C

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 142012

Vodafone Portugal has accidentally revealed the upomcing HTC Desire C. The unannounced smartphone appears in its May catalog with press shots and specifications. Codenamed Golf during development, the leaked specifications indicate that it will be an entry-level Android 4.0 smartphone.

Rumoured HTC Desire C

The Vodafone catalog reveals the following specifications:

Processor: 600MHz single-core
Operating system: Google Android 4.0 with HTC Sense 4.0
Cellular connectivity: Listed as 3.5G (HSPA?)
Other connectivity: A-GPS, Wi-Fi
Display: 3.5-inch HVGA
Input: Capacitive touchscreen
Storage: 4GB onboard
Rear-facing camera: 5MP
Front-facing camera: None
Other: Beats Audio

The HTC Desire C has been the topic of leaks a couple of times. A leaked press shot was followed earlier this month by some actual device pictures.

The HTC Desire C has yet to be formally announced but its inclusion in the May issue suggests that this will happen quite soon.

Samsung Galaxy S III accessories revealed?

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 142012

Along with the Galaxy S III, Samsung will launch a number of accessories. It has already revealed the S Pebble MP3 player and more are coming. Mobile Fun has obtained details on these including pictures. Let’s have a quick look.

First up is the Genuine Samsung Galaxy S III C-Pen, a capacitive stylus pen, that you can use instead of your finger. It looks like a ballpoint pen.

Rumoured Samsung Galaxy S III C-Pen

New Sony Xperia device drops liquid energy logo?

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 132012

Another Sony Xperia smartphone has apparently leaked. While there is little information about the device, it reveals one interesting fact. A picture of the back of it shows no Sony Ericsson liquid energy logo ball. If so, it could be the first Sony Xperia device not to have the logo associated with the former Sony-Ericsson partnership.

Sony Xperia smartphone with no liquid energy logo

The picture also reveals capacitive buttons below the display rather than the in-display ones of the just released Sony Xperia GX and Xperia SX.

I wondered during our Sony Xperia S unboxing how much longer Sony would keep the Sony Ericsson logo. It appears that its end could be near.

Rumour: Amazon to launch colour e-ink Kindle this year

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 112012

Amazon Amazon may launch its first colour e-ink Kindle by the end the year. The Digitimes report suggests Amazon will use electronic paper displays (EPD) provided by E Ink Holdings (EIH) and multi-touch capacitive touch panels from TPK Holding instead of the infrared one used for the Kindle Touch.

To meet the target of a launch later this year, suppliers are expected to begin shipping the necessary compoents this month.

EIH will reportedly formally announce its colour EPD products in the near future.

A similar Digitimesreport in February suggested that EIH was to begin supplying Amazon with the colour e-ink displays in March.

Quad-core Snapdragon S4 LG LS970 Eclipse 4G LTE revealed

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 112012

LG is reportedly working on a new flagship smartphone packing a quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor and LTE connectivity. According to an anonymous Brief Mobile source, the LG LS970 Eclipse 4G LTE promises to be quite the device. Some fairly detailed specifications have been revealed:

Processor: 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 with Adreno 320 GPU
Cellular connectivity: 4G LTE
Display: 4.67-inch WXGA (1280×768) LCD TFT
Input: Capacitive touchscreen
Memory: 2GB RAM
Storage: 16GB onboard
Rear-facing camera: 13MP AF
Front-facing camera: 1.3MP
Battery: 2,100mAh
Dimensions / weight: 131.9 x 71.6 x 8.6 millimeters / 142 grams

The APQ8064 chipset will be paired with a separate MDM9615 radio one.

The one picture of the device only shows the back of what is likely a prototype. It has a flat back with what appears to be a camera bump (similar to the Motorola RAZR’s).

Rumoured LG LS970 Eclipse 4G LTE

The LG LS970 could be out as early as Q4 this year (possibly with Sprint). Are the Samsung Galaxy S III and HTC One X about to get some serious competition?

Rumour: 7-inch Apple iPad to sell for as low as US$200

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 102012

Apple A new 7-inch iPad rumour adds a few new wrinkles to the other rumours floating about. According to a source which has proven reliable in the past, Apple’s new tablet will be priced between US$200 and US$250. Apple’s strategy with this aggressive pricing is clear: Shut out its competitors from the tablet space.

The 7-inch iPad (likely a 7.85-inch panel) will reportedly offer the same resolution as the new iPad (2048 by 1536) putting its pixel density close to that of the iPhone 4S. At the same time, it will only come with 8GB of storage (half that of the current entry-level new iPad). Aside from that, it should be “identical in every way” to the current model.

A Digitimes report yesterday suggested an August launch but iMore indicates that Apple is “currently targeting” an October release.

Rumour: T-Mobile USA to acquire MetroPCS

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 102012

T-Mobile USA The last time T-Mobile was the subject of an acquisition, it was going to be the acquiree until the deal fell apart last December. It now appears that it could be doing the acquiring this time. Citing “people familiar with the matter,” Bloomberg reports that Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile’s parent company, is in discussion with MetroPCS about a possible merger.

Such a merger would not be without its challenges. For example, T-Mobile uses HSPA while MetroPCS runs on CDMA.

One option is a stock-swap transaction that would give Deutsche Telekom control over the merged company which would stay publicly listed. Deutsche Telekom is also considering an outright sale of the carrier or an initial public offering.

T-Mobile USA is the U.S.’s the fourth-largest wireless provider with 33.4 million subscribers at the end of 2012′s first quarter. It has struggled against its larger competitors. Since the failed AT&T merger, it has cut jobs even as it has increased investment into a faster network in a bid to retain its customers. This deal would grow T-Mobile’s customer base by 9.5 million.

Both companies are also in discussions with other parties.

Another HTC Golf picture leaked

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 092012

The rumoured HTC Golf has surfaced again, this time in a couple leaked pictures. First spotted in a leaked press shot, the new pictures present a very similar device.

Rumoured HTC Golf

ITProPortal‘s source did not provide any additional details on the specifications. Earlier rumours point to an entry-level device that will slot below HTC’s One lineup.

Past rumours suggested the HTC Golf would be released as the HTC Wildire C but it looks set to be known as the Desire C instead.

Rumour: Apple places orders for next-generation iPhone and 10-inch iPad

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 092012

Apple According to Digitimes supply chain sources, Apple has placed orders with Pegatron to manufacture both the next-generation iPhone as well as a larger 10-inch iPad. The manufacturer has already completed the necessary facilities expansion and hired additional workers to start production.

According to the report, the new iPhone will launch in the September time frame with the 10-inch iPad to follow sometime in the fourth quarter. According to the latest rumours, the next iPhone will sport a slightly larger 4-inch display, a metal casing, and a smaller dock connector.

The report adds that Apple will also launch a 7-inch iPad in August. It will be manufactured by Foxconn. Rumours of a smaller iPad have circulated for some time. Whether Apple does release such a device or is “just noodling” remains to be seen. A number of past rumours have hinted at a late 2012 release or broader second half launch.

Pegatron already manufactures both the iPhone 4S and the new iPad for Apple.

Could the Facebook phone be powered by Windows Phone?

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 082012

The oft-rumoured Facebook phone is in the news again. Microsoft is reportedly hoping that Facebook will use Windows Phone for this device. It appears that discussions have not gone very far yet as Microsoft is “hanging around the hoop,” waiting for Facebook to really focus on this project. Not only would such a project offer deeper Facebook integration than seen on current Windows Phone devices but it would also offer a different branding. As an example, we could see something like “The Facebook Phone, powered by Windows.”

Citing “a single source briefed on Microsoft’s mobile strategy,” BusinessInsider adds that Microsoft will offer three major reasons for Facebook to partner with it:

We’re not Google.
We know what to do and how to do it. Making a phone is not easy. You have to develop the OS, get manufacturers to build handsets for it, get carriers to carry it, market it, sell it, and ship it. Facebook has no idea how to do any of this. Microsoft does, and it will offer to help Facebook with all of it.
We know everyone. Microsoft has relationships across the industry. Samsung, HTC, and Nokia are already making Windows Phones. LG was. AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon are already carrying the phones. Microsoft spends hundreds of millions of dollars with ad agencies every year. It’s working with a logistics firm, Brightpoint, to get the product shipped to stores efficiently.

Other Business Insider sources call the story “plausible, logical, and even likely” but are unable to corroborate it.

Past rumours have proposed a number of different scenarios for the Facebook phone. Facebook could develop its own operating system or could instead use Android. It could even follow in Amazon’s footsteps (with the Kindle Fire) and use its own forked version of Android. Facebook was even rumoured to have considered buying webOS from HP. More recent rumours have partnered Facebook with HTC.

Rumour: US$799 Apple MacBook Air coming in Q3 2012

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 072012

Apple MacBook Air Citing its usual “sources from the upstream supply chain,” Digitimes reports that new MacBook Air models will launch in Q3 2012. Along with the introduction of updated specifications, Apple will also lower the price of the cheapest model from US$999 down to US$799.

The price move is attributed to Intel’s push to drive ultrabook starting prices down to US$699 in the second half of the year. Ultrabook sales momentum is expected to pick up with the introduction of Windows 8 later this year but Apple’s price drop could blunt their adoption.

Intel is also rumoured to have set aside up to US$300 million to push ultrabook adoption and “strengthen notebook brand vendors’ morale.” Intel could spend a further US$100 million to develop its own application store.

Upcoming BlackBerry 10 device list found on BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha?

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 062012

RIM BlackBerry The BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha device appears to have revealed a few details about Research In Motion’s BlackBerry 10 device plans. Buried in the code of the device running a modified version of BlackBerry PlayBook OS is a list of devices. Some device names are familiar while others are new. The familiar ones all belong to rumoured BlackBerry 10 devices suggesting that all of could be BlackBerry 10 devices.

On the list are the following:

# R044 – Nevada 0x8400270A,1
# R051 – Winchester2 LTE 0x0c001a06,1
# R052 – Winchester2 HSPA+ 0x0d001a06,1
# R053 – Winchester2 LTE HSPA+ 0x0e001a06,1
# R061 – Colt 0×04002307,1
# R072 – London 0×04002607,1
# R073 – Blackforest 0×04002706,1
# R084 – Nashville 0x8500270A,1
# R085 – Naples 0x8600270A,1

Among the familiar names are the Colt (the codename for the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha), the London (possibly to be the first BlackBerry 10 device we will see), the Nevada (a full QWERTY BB 10 smartphone>) and the Blackforest (rumoured to be a 10-inch PlayBook tablet).

New names are the Winchester2 in LTE, HSPA+ and LTE/HSPA+ configurations (the 3G and 4G PlayBooks?) as well as the Nashville and Naples.

If you have a BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha, you can see the list for yourself by typing ‘file:///radio/etc/sv.numbers’ in the browser.

It would appear that RIM has a full plate of upcoming devices!

LTE Windows Phone Samsung Mandel caught on camera?

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 042012

While Samsung has confirmed that it is working on Windows Phone 8 devices, the status of one of its rumoured Windows Phone 7.5 devices appears to be in limbo. The LTE-enabled Samsung Mandel (model number SGH-i667) was first thought be one of three new Windows Phone 7.5 devices that AT&T would introduce at CES 2012. While the carrier did announce the Nokia Lumia 900 and the HTC Titan 2, the Mandel was a no-show. Rumours as recent as early April still suggested that it would get launched.

In the meantime, a couple of images (courtesy of Chinese site WPXAP) have given us a glimpse at the Mandel and suggest again that it is a real device. The AT&T branding shows up on an image showing us the desktop sync.

Rumoured Samsung SGH-i667 Mandel

Little new information is revealed but it does appear that the Mandel would come with 8GB of internal memory (of which 5.61GB would be available).

Samsung (or AT&T for that matter) may have decided to pass on the Mandel as they gear up for Windows Phone 8. Then again, maybe it will appear as a entry-level LTE device this summer.