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Apple TV set to see major update, no longer a “hobby”
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Home Entertainment, Rumors, Video Games, Wireless / WiFi,
If you were paying close attention to the changes that Apple made to the Apple Store Online overnight, you would have noticed that, for the first time in its history, the Apple TV has its own section in the Store. Previously, the device had been relegated out of the way, buried in the iPad Accessories section. Odd, sure, since the Apple TV is hardly an accessory for the iPod at all, save for the fact that they can work together over AirPlay, but where else was Apple to put a product that wasn't meant to be featured? After all, the Apple TV wasn't a real business according to Apple--it was just a "hobby." Something the company dabbled in and played with, pulling the string to see where it would lead. Let's be clear: Apple has ambitious TV plans. The company has just been using the Apple TV as a research project. While it has been available for purchase for many years, Apple never advertises it. Not on television, radio, print, or web. So, the fact that here in 2014, seven years after first going on sale, the Apple TV now has its own dedicated section on the Apple Store (with AppleCare, a refurb section, and dedicated accessories) must mean that something bigger is happening, right? Well, where there is smoke, there's fire.
Click to continue reading Apple TV set to see major update, no longer a “hobby”
Gallery: Apple TV set to see major update, no longer a “hobby”
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iPhone 5S fingerprint sensor to be called Touch ID?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Rumors,
The folks at Nowhereelse.fr have got their hands on a purported iPhone 5S illustrated guide, which indicates that the new fingerprint sensor that is rumored to be embedded into the Home button will be referred to as the Touch ID sensor by Apple. Of course, until it's officially announced by Apple, we're chalking it up as a rumor, but as far as Apple naming conventions go, Touch ID sounds pretty Apple-esque. We'll know more in just over an hour, so keep it locked here--today is gonna be a big news day.
Read More 
| Nowhereelse
Gallery: iPhone 5S fingerprint sensor to be called Touch ID?
Apple iPhone 5, gold iPhone 5S, blue iPhone 5C shells compared [Video]
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors, Videos,
It's widely expected that Apple will take the stage on September 10th to announce its fall smartphone update, including the iPhone 5S and lower-priced iPhone 5C. The iPhone 5S is expected to be available in a new champagne gold color, and we gave you a look at what the gold iPhone 5S should look like. Now, a video has surfaced that shows a black iPhone 5 alongside the rear shell of the white & gold iPhone 5S.
Additionally, a blue iPhone 5C rear casing is also compared, giving us a look at what Apple's iPhone for the budget-minded will look like when it launches next month. All signs are pointing to a September 20th release for Apple's updated fall smartphone line-up.
Click to continue reading Apple iPhone 5, gold iPhone 5S, blue iPhone 5C shells compared [Video]
Gallery: Apple iPhone 5, gold iPhone 5S, blue iPhone 5C shells compared [Video]
What can we expect from Apple’s iPhone 5S A7 processor?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Rumors,
The iPhone 5S is set to be revealed in two weeks, and being an S-type update, this typically means that Apple has spent time optimizing and maximizing under-the-hood performance of the iPhone that preceded it, in this case, the iPhone 5. The rumor mill says that the next iPhone will sport an A7 processor that is 64-bit and 31% faster than the A6 found in the iPhone 5. What would 64-bit processing do for the iPhone? Well, iOS 7 is intense on things like transparency and other graphical elements, and an optimized 64-bit processor could make those as smooth as butter. That's the benefit of Apple making its own mobile processors:
One of the biggest—if not the biggest—advantages Apple has in not being reliant on merchant silicon (they don’t buy standard application processors designed by others) is that they can customize the A7/A8 etc to exactly fit their own apps / services frameworks, without making generic design compromises.
To see this best, contrast Qualcomm, whose processors will fit in hundreds or thousands of different Android models to Apple, whose A7 will go in to the iPhone, iPad and possibly the iPod and iTV. Because Qualcomm must support so many potential vendor configurations, they are forced to design by the 80/20 rule. Meanwhile, Apple can strip out absolutely everything it doesn’t want on-chip, and add specific things it does, such as DSP or graphics capabilities which iOS is designed to use.
Of course, just because Apple is testing these processors, that doesn't mean that they'll see the light of day in the iPhone 5S. Other rumblings say that the next iPhone will also contain a fingerprint sensor, motion tracking sensor, a camera that supports a 120 FPS slow-motion mode, a gold color option, and possible even a 128GB option as well.
Gallery: What can we expect from Apple’s iPhone 5S A7 processor?
Here’s what the gold iPhone 5S will look like
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Design, Handhelds, Rumors,
Apple will be releasing the iPhone 5S in black and slate, white and silver, and a new color: white and gold. Pictured above, you can see the coloring of the anodization, being a muted champagne gold color without the white glass plates installed. It's one way to create an external change in the S line of iPhone releases, which is generally all about under-the-hood changes and improvements, while the externals remain the same as the year before. We pretty much know that Apple will be announcing the new iPhone 5S on September 10, with the device launching 10 days later.
What do you think? You interested in the new gold color, or are you sticking with the more traditional variants? Me? I'm going with Anostyle again.
Read More | Weekly Ascii
Gallery: Here’s what the gold iPhone 5S will look like
Mysterious Chromecast device shows upon Google support page
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Google, Rumors,
A few eagle-eyed Google support page visitors spotted a mysteriously unknown device dubbed Chromecast. It has since been removed from the site, as if it never existed. Luckily, someone took a screenshot for posterity. There are no concrete details of what it actually is. However, there is some speculation of it being an HDMI dongle streaming device for TVs, while websites like Droid Life say it might be a Apple AirPlay-like feature to sling content from a Cromebook to the TV. Hopefully, the mystery will be solved at today's Google event. In the meantime, let the speculation continue.
Read More | Droid Life
Gallery: Mysterious Chromecast device shows upon Google support page
iPad mini with Retina display could ship this fall with LG panel
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Rumors,
Recently there have been reports that Apple may not release the next iPad mini with a Retina display due to yield issues with the panels, and that customers would need to wait until 2014 before the smaller Apple tablet brought the high resolution goodness. However, today DigiTimes is changing its tune, reporting that LG has solved the issue, and will be shipping Retina display panels for the iPad mini later this year:
The sources also added that LG is reportedly making new headway in producing Retina panel technology for use in the next-generation iPad mini, and expects to ship about 2-3 million units a month in preparation for Apple's expected October release date.
It should be noted that it was just earlier this week that DigiTimes reported that the Retina iPad mini wouldn't be seen until 2014. To backtrack on that report this quickly would imply that they got news to the contrary. In addition to the iPad mini news, DigiTimes is also still reporting that the fifth-generation iPad will be streamlined with thinner side bezels, lighter, and ship with a faster processor this fall.
Read More | DigiTimes
Gallery: iPad mini with Retina display could ship this fall with LG panel
Purported leaked Next Generation Nexus 7 launch date is nigh [Video]
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Google, Handhelds, Rumors, Videos,
The alleged next-generation Nexus 7 tablet showed up in the retail inventory at OfficeMax with a SKU placeholder that points toward a starting price point of $229 for the 16GB storage capacity, and $269 for the 32GB version. The sale of the device is said to coincide with Google's Chrome and Android event scheduled for the 24th of July. The new Nexus 7 is rumored to have an astonishing 4GB of RAM, Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor, 5 megapixel rear camera, and 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera. There's also some speculation of a 1080p display, all which is yet to be confirmed. Check out the video of the purported next generation Nexus 7 tablet below.
Click to continue reading Purported leaked Next Generation Nexus 7 launch date is nigh [Video]
Read More | Androidcentral
Gallery: Purported leaked Next Generation Nexus 7 launch date is nigh [Video]
Alleged leaked photos of the iPhone 5S back plate surface
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors,
Alleged leaked photos have surfaced from Chinese website EXpreview of the iPhone 5S. Although it will supposedly have the same processor, it will include an upgraded PowerVR SGX 554MP4 graphic chip. Also, included in the upgraded specs is a 12 megapixel camera, dual LED flash, 2 GB of RAM, and support for NFC and 4G LTE Advanced networks. Rumors are pointing toward a fingerprint scanner from AuthenTech, and a display featuring IGZO technology from Sharp. Previous reports have also pointed to a slightly larger battery as well. Take it all with a grain of salt until Apple officially makes the announcement, but as we've seen over the past few years, new iPhone start leaking in the summer, and they are more often than not exactly what we see Apple reveal.
Read More | EXPreview
Gallery: Alleged leaked photos of the iPhone 5S back plate surface
Sony Xperia i1 Honami smartphone specs leak
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors,
Sony is working on an impressive smartphone in the Xperia i1 (codename: Honami,) with specs starting to leak. ePrice reports that the Xperia i1 boasts an incredible 20.7 megapixel ExmorRS camera with Sony Bionz image processing. That, in and of itself, though not quite Lumia 1020 territory, is pretty beast. Add to that a 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 series processor and 5-inch 1080p display, and you've got yourself something worthy of being the next Sony flagship smartphone. We'll find out more at IFA in September, where Sony will undoubtedly show off its new wares.
Read More | ePrice
Gallery: Sony Xperia i1 Honami smartphone specs leak
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