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Apple working on embedded SIM for iPhone?

Posted by Patrick Lambert Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors,

iPhone custom SIM

Apple has gotten creative with SIM cards in the past. They've done it before with the iPad, which uses a MicroSIM to connect to a 3G cellular network, and then the iPhone 4 followed suit. While they didn't exactly invent the technology, it's the first time that this gets used in a mass market device. Now, this morning, sources inside of some European carriers say that Apple is ready to pull a similar stunt. Apple and SIM maker Gemalto are reportedly about to implement a new SIM technology which would live permanently inside of the iPhone, and wouldn't need to be removed to switch carrier. The new SIM could be changed from one network to the next by the software, removing the need for it to be a removable card.

This is only rumor at this point, and if it was any other company it would be a dubious one at best. However, Apple's already proved that they can make carriers bend to their will to a certain extent, and this may be no different. The main benefit for Apple would be the ability to bypass the carrier. Consumers could buy a phone online, without any need to be pre-attached to a carrier like AT&T or T-Mobile, and then choose themselves which carrier to configure it for, at will.

Of course it's not all good for the end user. This would remove some of the control from the cellular network, but that control would be put straight into Apple's hands. So it remains to be seen what they would do with such increased power. Nevertheless, if they do manage this feat, it's clear others would be tempted to do so. Time will tell if Apple breaks the smartphone mold once more.

Apple readying cheaper, faster, lighter MacBook Air

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop, Rumors,

MacBook Air redesign

Looks like the guys over at Cult of Mac have received a few interesting tidbits of information as it pertains to a possible MacBook Air refresh at this Wednesday's Back to the Mac Apple event. Here's a look at what they say they've been told:

The new model is also apparently much snappier than its underpowered predecessor. ”It boots so fast, it’s unbelievable,” our source says. “It’s amazing how fast it boots up.”

A faster 13-inch model with upgradeable options should appeal to pro users, while a cheaper 11-inch MacBook Air might be more attractive to students and casual users.

A 50-percent bigger battery, delivering 8-10 hours of battery life. The current MacBook Air has a 5-hour battery.

The new machine is thinner and lighter, weighing less than the current model’s 3lbs, our source says.

The new enclosure is also an aluminum unibody design, like the current model — but not as curvy.

Same black keyboard as current MBA, same single-button Multi-Touch trackpad. [wha? Current MacBook trackpad has separate button, unlike the rendering]

Upgradable RAM (base 2GB [-boo!], SSD. Also NVidia GeForce 320M integrated graphics

Two configs: 2.1Ghz (with 2GB of RAM) and 2.4 GHz (with 4GB of RAM).

Of course, we take all this stuff with a grain of salt until Apple actually shows it off, but the MacBook Air is in serious need of a hardware refresh, so we wouldn't be surprised to see it happen on Wednesday. Pricing on these is also rumored to be dropping from the current $1,500 starting price, with the 11.6-inch model starting at $1,100 and the 13.3-inch version going for $1,400.

As always, we will have all the details from this Wednesday's event as they happen.

WSJ: Verizon iPhone coming early 2011

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors,

According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple is readying plans to mass produce a CDMA version of the iPhone 4 that would allow Verizon Wireless to sell the phone early next year. They say their sources are “people briefed by Apple,” and we know that we’ve all gone over this rumor numerous times over the past couple of years, but it seems that 2011 marks the end of the AT&T exclusivity on the iPhone in the US, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see it hit Verizon in the first quarter of 2011.

In other news, WSJ reports that Apple is already hard at work on the iPhone 5. Of course, with it expected to launch in just 8 months, that really isn’t news at all.

Apple readying Facetime-capable iPad mini?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Rumors,

Our pals over at iLounge have gotten a few iPad-related tibdits from one of their sources, and we thought it was interesting enough to pass on. They are hearing that, in conjunction with the regular September ipod event that Apple conducts each year, that the company may announce a smaller version of the iPad. They say it’ll have a 7-inch display, making the screen closer to that of the Amazon Kindle (Amazon released a new Kindle last week.) We’ve also been hearing that a smaller iPad was on the horizon, but we didn’t hear anything about a date. Other sources are claiming that the next iPad will definitely ship with a front-facing camera as well, turning them into Facetime devices (the next iPod touch will likely include similar functionality.) Even if it doesn’t happen in September, we fully expect to see a smaller iPad by January.

If Apple wants Facetime to catch on, they definitely need to get it into more devices than just the iPhone 4, and this would be a good way to accomplish that. A smaller iPad with increased functionality launching so soon after the original could result in buyers remorse for some, but it’s not like Apple hasn’t made similar moves in the past, especially with the iPod a few years ago.

FaceTime on iPad and iPod touch to use email to connect

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Cameras, Handhelds, Rumors,

FaceTime currently establishes a connection on the iPhone 4 using your phone number as a means to authenticate. This is a problem for Wi-Fi iPads and the iPod touch, since they don’t have a cell service to verify who you are. However, that isn’t gonna stop Apple from bringing FaceTime to those devices. BGR has a couple of images showing that Apple will likely use your Apple ID—the email address you use when you register Apple products—as the means of authentication on those devices. From there, you’d get a push notification whenever someone wanted to have a FaceTime chat with you. Works for us, but of course, we likely won’t find out any more about this until September, when Apple introduces the next iPod touch. One more image after the break.

Click to continue reading FaceTime on iPad and iPod touch to use email to connect

What is this tiny Apple touchscreen device for?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Displays, Rumors,

If tw.apple.pro is to be believed, this is another leaked piece of an upcoming Apple product. What you are looking at is a 1.2-inch by 1.2-inch touchscreen display. Of course, that leaves us wondering, what the heck would Apple do with a touchscreen display this tiny? Could this be the display for the next iPod shuffle, finally bringing visual cues to that device? Could it be for an upcoming remote control? Or a watch? Something else? Let us know your thoughts!

Next iPod touch to rock front-facing camera, HD recording?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Portable Audio / Video, Rumors,

Hot off the release of the iPhone 4, the Apple rumor mill is heating up once again, this time in regards to the fourth-generation iPod touch. The image above is making the rounds on a few Chinese sites, and it’s reportedly the faceplate of the upcoming iPod touch refresh. If the image is true, then it looks like we can expect a front-facing camera (and therefore, FaceTime.) Furthermore, we are hearing that Apple plans to line the iPod touch right up with the iPhone 4, which should mean HD video recording in 720p, gyroscope, and a 5 megapixel camera around back as well. This would be the first time the iPod touch had a camera of any time built into it. Take it all with a grain of salt. We should find out the real scoop from Apple in September.

Apple set to bring iTunes to the cloud and offer wireless syncing

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Home Entertainment, Rumors, Wireless / WiFi,

Our pals over at BGR have got a scoop from a “reliable Apple source” that has told them that the company is preparing for a major shift in their iTunes strategy. Basically, Apple is readying an iTunes cloud service that would bring a few new capabilities to the service, and untether you from keeping and accessing your content strictly off of a local hard drive. Once live, you’d be able to stream your music and movies directly from Apple’s servers to your devices, no matter where you are. Further, you’d be able to steam music and movies from your home computers to your other computers and remote devices, kind of like an extension of Back to My Mac. Lastly, we should finally see wireless iTunes syncing come to devices like the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

These changes would immediately negate pretty much all storage space woes with WiFi-capable Apple devices. A 16GB iPad could stream every movie you own rather than requiring the movie to be stores on the device itself, making internal storage much less of an issue. Apple typically has their iTunes and iPod event in September, and this year should be no different. If this is real, we’d expect it to be unveiled in just over two months.

iPhone finally hitting Verizon in January 2011?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors,

According to Bloomberg, it seems that Verizon Wireless may finally start offering the iPhone to customers, starting in January 2011. Many have wondered when AT&T’s exclusive grip on the iPhone would be coming to an end, and “two people familiar with the plans” are pointing to January. As expected, Verizon and Apple spokespersons have declined to comment, but we wouldn’t be shocked if we saw the iPhone 4 drop on Verizon in the new year.

CDMA iPhone 4 to ship Q4 2010 for Verizon?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors, Wireless / WiFi,

You know, the Verizon iPhone rumor mill just won’t let up, but this time we are paying a bit more attention. According to Digitimes, Apple has put in orders to have a CDMA iPhone 4 manufactured. If that is the case, that really could only mean that the iPhone is coming to Verizon and/or Sprint. Of course, we won’t know if any of this means anything until Apple tells us it does.

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