Rumor: iPhone 5 due in September, iPad mini in August, iPad 4 in Q4

Citing sources close to Apple’s supply chain, Asian hit-and-miss trade publication DigiTimes reported this morning that Apple will launch a sixth-generation iPhone in September, followed by the long-rumored seven-inch iPad mini in August and a fourth-generation iPad in the fourth quarter of this year.

According to the report, Pegatron has reportedly landed orders for the next iPhone while Foxconn is said to manufacture the seven-inch iPad mini, presumably designed to tackle the lower-end of the tablet market currently occupied by Amazon’s $199 Kindle Fire tablet…

Standard caveat applies here, folks: take this report with a healthy does of skepticism as DigiTimes is a mixed bag with respect to the Apple rumors biz.

So, here’s right from the DigiTimes claim chowder:

To mainly focus on Apple’s orders, Pegatron has also internally decided to downsize its SI motherboard department and to shift resources to Apple’s orders. Since Asustek has been reducing its motherboard orders to Pegatron, while gross margins are also rather low, the shifting in resources is expected to benefit Pegatron in its operations, the sources noted.

Pegatron, which currently produces the iPhone 4S and the new iPad, has reportedly re-tooled its factories and is ready to assemble the next iPhone model.

Pegatron has already finished expanding its equipment and labor force for Apple’s orders.

Pegatron and Foxconn are Apple’s favorite contract manufacturers, but Shenzen-based Foxconn gets by far the biggest portion of orders from apple.

Now, we’ll believe a new iPad form factor when we see it.

Likewise, we’re not so sure about the fourth-generation iPad launching in the Q4 2012.

The iPad 3 launched in March and Apple likes to stick to a yearly release schedule for the iPad. Well-connected Apple pundit John Gruber recently likened the idea of another iPad this year to “a completely made-up nonsense”.

And in spite of common wisdom, I’m also torn regarding a smaller, 7.85-inch iPad. In case you were wondering, here’s what it would look like next to its 9.7-inch sibling.

On the other hand, the iPad mini might not need a re-write of existing apps, as some folks argued, because the size of user interface elements rendered on a 7.85-inch display would still conform to Apple’s guidelines.

A smaller display in conjunction with existing manufacturing processes would certainly let Apple price the iPad mini even more aggressively than the $399 16GB Wi-Fi-only iPad 2.

With the high-end covered by the new iPad and the middle-end addressed with the iPad 2, Apple has thus far conceded the low-end of the market to Amazon’s seven-inch Kindle Fire tablet, which retails for only $199.

The Fire took off to a pretty big start, becoming the best-selling Android tablet. However, per latest IDC data, the device has plummeted from a 16.8 percent share in Q4 2011 to just four percent share in Q1 2012.

Apple’s late co-founder famously dissed seven-inchers, remarking in a conference call with investors these would need to ship with sandpaper so users could sand down their fingers in order to hit tiny icons on the screen.

DigiTimes also reported this morning that Foxconn is set to open a 10,000 square meter state-of-the-art China headquarters in Shanghai. Completion is scheduled for 2015 and the offices will serve as Foxconn’s new operating facility, as well as a research & development and sales center.

Do these iPad and iPhone launch dates make sense to you? I mean, two new iPhones by year’s end, how wacky is that.

It would certainly be prudent to launch the next iPhone sooner than later.

Samsung in the first quarter beat Apple to the smartphone punch, the fact the iPhone maker even mentioned in court documents. Plus, the South Korean conglomerate has justlaunched its third-generation Galaxy S smartphone.

Note: Even though iDB and pretty much every media outlet out there refers to the next iPhone as the iPhone 5, w’re pretty confident Apple will drop the numerical suffix altogether and simply call the device “the new iPhone”.

The above Liquidmetal iPhone 5 concept is credited to French designer Antoine Brieux. 






[Via: idownloadblog]

iOS 5.1.1 is out: fixes iPad network switching, Safari syncing, AirPlay, HDR

Right on the heels of iOS 5.1 release back in March, a new maintenance update has just appeared on Apple’s servers. The new firmware for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch models carries a build number 9B206 and includes several bug fixes, including one for the annoying network switching issue with iPad 3.

Minor AirPlay issues are addressed and reliability of HDR photography taken using the lock screen shortcut is now improved. The firmware update also squashed another issue with syncing Safari bookmarks and Reading List.

Note to jailbreakers Don’t update.

According to release notes accompanying the update, it contains the obligatory improvements and bug fixes, including:

• Improves reliability of using HDR option for photos taken using the Lock Screen shortcut
• Addresses bugs that could prevent the new iPad from switching between 2G and 3G networks
• Fixes bugs that affected AirPlay video playback in some circumstances
• Improved reliability for syncing Safari bookmarks and Reading List
• Fixes an issue where ‘Unable to purchase’ alert could be displayed after successful purchase

You can install the update by connecting your device to iTunes via a USB cable and hitting the Check for Updates button in the Info section of your device information pane.

Alternatively, go to the Settings app on your device and choose Software Update in the General section. 








[Via: idownloadblog]

new iPad has already been jailbroken

Well, that didn’t take long. The new iPad hasn’t even been on sale for a week yet, and it’s already been jailbroken. 

MuscleNerd, a trusted member of the Dev Team, just tweeted out pics of his late-generation iPad hacked, and running Cydia 1.1.5. It’s hard to see in the screenshot (above), but the software labels his device as an iPad 3,3, running iOS 5.1…

While this is great news for folks who just picked up Apple’s latest tablet, it certainly doesn’t mean that an iPad (3) jailbreak will be available to the public anytime soon. This is more of a proof of concept hack — meaning yes, it can be done.

Keep in mind that Comex showed off an iPad 2 jailbreak shortly after the slate was released last year, and it still ended up being a couple of months before it was available to the masses. So we’re not getting our hopes up just yet.

But we’ll still take it. Any sign of a jailbreak, is a good sign.

[Via: idownloadblog]

The New iPad - iPad3

Finally. After months of rumors and speculation, it’s finally here. Tim Cook has just unveiled the the new iPad. And though we feel like we’ve seen and heard enough about the device over the past few months to write a novel, none of that compares to the real deal.

As expected, the new iPad’s hardware has received some major upgrades. Sure, it might look similar to its predecessor. But when you take a peek under its hood, you can see that the iPad 3 is an entirely different animal…

The first feature announced for the new iPad is, of course, its Retina display. Just as suspected, the screen on Apple’s new tablet has a resolution of 2048 x 1536. Wow, that’s over a million pixels. 3.1 million total pixels to be exact.

Next up, the new iPad has an all new quad-core processor. Apple’s named it the A5X (weird). It’s 4X as fast as the popular Tegra 3 chipset, and should take iOS gaming to a whole new level.

The tablet is also packed with a new camera. The backside shooter is capable of taking 5MP pictures, and capturing full HD 1080p videos. But don’t let the 5MP part fool you, the system driving the camera is the same one Apple introduced in the iPhone 4S. So pictures should still turn out crystal clear.

And finally, as predicted, Apple has added 4G LTE technology to the new iPad — and not at the sake of battery life. The tablet will maintain its well-known 10 hour life point, and will be able to surf the web on LTE for 9 hours. Wow.

Here is the new iPad - TV Ad as below:

Here is the Apple Link for new iPad intro Video. Enjoy ~

[Via: idownloadblog & Apple]

Top 3 smartphones sold in 2011

The iPhone has seen an enormous amount of success worldwide. Apple announced during its fiscal Q1 2012 earnings report that the iPhone sold a total of 37 million units in one quarter. Ranked the third phone manufacturer in the world, Apple is continuing to sell an abundance of iPhones.

When it comes to iPhone sales in the US, Apple sold the top three smartphones in 2011,according to a new report released by ComScore. The iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 4S found their way into the most hands of consumers…

So why isn’t the iPhone 4S ranked first? Remember the iPhone 4S launched October 14th, 2011, only giving the handset three months to rack up sales. In that three month period, the iPhone 4S earned an impressive spot at third most sold phone in the US.

The iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS are obvious for the one and two spot, being on the market during 2011 for a total of nine months. Being priced at $99, people saw the iPhone 3GS as a cheaper alternative to the iPhone 4.

Once the iPhone 4S was launched in October, people saw the iPhone 4 as a cheaper alternative, also at $99. For those who weren’t looking to spend too much, they could also choose from the iPhone 3GS for $50.

It’s interesting to see RIM’s BlackBerry Curve, most likely popular in the corporate world, earning the fourth ranked spot. Only one Android phone was found to be in the top five, the first 4G device — Sprint’s EVO 4G.

Yesterday, research group in US NDP released numbers indicating that Apple’s iPad was also the top tablet in the US. Amazon’s Kindle Fire trailed in second place. What about Malaysia & Singapore ? I think iPad2 will take Place.

For now, it appears Apple will remain king with device sales in the US. With the iPad 3 coming next month and rumored iPhone 5 coming in the summer, expect Apple to have another impressive year.

[Via: idownloadblog & MacRumors]

Tweetbot for iPad Now Available

Following the release of the new Tweetbot version 2.0 earlier today, the Tweetbot team has just released Tweetbot for iPad, now available on the iTunes App Store. The new iPad version includes many of Tweetbot for iPhone’s new features, and also features new iPad specific gestures.

Tweetbot for iPad sports the following features:

• Multiple Timelines. Quickly switch between your lists as your main timeline.
• Smart Gestures. Use Twitter more efficiently with time-saving and configurable gestures.
• Native Push Notifications.
• Customizable Navigation. Hide the navigation tabs that you never use.
• Support for multiple services like Read it Later, Instapaper, Cloudapp URL Shortening.
• Save drafts, add locations and POI’s, attach photos/videos, manage your lists, and much more.

You can download TweetBot for iPad on the iTunes App Store for $2.99. 








[Via: idownloadblog]

Tips: iPad’s Split Keyboard

The ability to split up the iPad’s keyboard is one of my favorite lesser-known features in iOS 5. I don’t use it all the time. But it really comes in handy when I need to rattle off an email or conjure up other large bodies of text.

Apple obviously put a lot of thought into getting the split keyboard just the right size for its tablet, and it shows. In fact, there are even some elements of the keyboard that you can’t see. Did you know there were hidden buttons on the iPad’s split keyboard?

As noted by TheNextWeb, the iPad keyboard, when split in half, contains 6 hidden buttons. These phantom keys help prevent accidental mis-touches, and allow you to access the letters Y,H,B,T,G, and V without having to use your opposite hand.

These invisible design tweaks really speak to Apple’s attention to detail, and its focus on the user experience. To view the iPad’s split keyboard, simply place a finger on either side of the keyboard and drag it apart.

Have you noticed these hidden iPad keys before?

[Via: idownloadblog & Finer Things]

Rumor: iPad 3 Already in Production for Early March Release

(Rumor iPad3 Photo)

The latest rumor from Japanese blog Macotakara claims that production for the next-generation iPad has already begun, and that Apple is expected to ship the product by early March. Foxconn and Pegatron are reportedly manufacturing the iPad 3 as we speak, and Foxconn is responsible for 85% of the supplies.

According to the report, initial shipments are scheduled to go out in early March, corroborating early claims from different sources. Apple is expected to hold a low-key media event at the end of January, but no dates have been given for other events in the coming months.

From Google Translate:

According to Chinese source, Foxconn Technology and Pegatron Technology started next generation of iPad assembly with Foxconn bearing 85% and Pegatron taking 15% of the production load like as iPhone 4S. Accelerated schedule is made possible by earlier Chinese New Year festival, 23rd-28th January.

Macotakara also says that Sharp is making the iPad 3′s displays — another claim that has been reported before. While Macotakara has gotten rumors wrong in the past, it is considered to be more reliable than Digitimes, a Taiwanese publication that has been the main source of next-generation iPad rumors so far.

iLounge claimed to have gotten a hands-on with the iPad 3′s rear shell yesterday, noting that the device would be nearly identical to the iPad 2′s exterior design. A new, higher resolution screen was expected from iLounge, and Macotakara says that the current Smart Cover will fit the new tablet. Like iLounge, Macotakara claims that the iPad 3 will be slightly thicker than its predecessor.

With all signs pointing towards a new model in the next 3-4 months, it would be wise to wait on purchasing a new iPad for the time being. 








[Via: idownloadblog]

Evidence That Siri May be iPad-Bound Found in iOS 5.1

Surprise Surprise. Not even 12 hours after Apple released the third beta for iOS 5.1, known firmware hacker Sonny Dickinson has already uncovered some interesting information.

Apparently the latest iOS update contains evidence that Apple is working on an iPad-compatible version of Siri, Apple’s popular digital assistant. Dickinson uncovered the reference after loading iOS 5.1 beta 3 onto his iPad 2…

Unlike past findings, the Siri evidence isn’t hidden within the firmware’s source code. Anyone can see it. Just open up the Settings application on your iPad 2 (running iOS 5.1 beta 3 obviously), navigate to General, and select the Keyboard tab.

There you should find a new option labeled “About Privacy and Dictation.” The section hasn’t existed on the iPad before, so this could be a good indication that Apple is working on bringing at least the Dictation part of Siri to its tablet.

But as 9to5Mac is quick to point out, this doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll see this feature included in the public iOS 5.1 release. It may not be finished by then, or worse, Apple could be making this an iPad 3-exclusive feature.

Regardless, we’re still excited to see that Siri is iPad-bound and can’t wait to see what other new iOS features are revealed in the next two months.

Would you use Siri on the iPad? 

[Via: idownloadblog]

Awesome X-RayWallpapers Let You See Inside of Your iDevice

If you’re the type of person who is always on the lookout for interesting and unique wallpapers, we’ve found some doozies for you. These x-ray wallpapers for the iPad and iPhone provide a glimpse into your iDevice’s internals.

The images come from iFixit, the well known masters of taking apart and rebuilding iOS hardware. The group grabbed the high resolution photos during one of their device tear-downs last year, and they just happen to make cool backgrounds…

Each image comes in the device’s respective resolution, and can be downloaded by clicking its accompanying link from your handset or tablet.

iPhone 3GS – Download

iPhone 4 – Download

iPad – Download

iMac 21.5″ - Download 

iMac 27″ - Download

For interested Mac users, iFixit also has high resolution images of the inside of a 21″ iMac, a 27″ iMac, and a Thunderbolt Display. While these pictures may be a little much for some of you to use as a wallpaper, they still showcase the intricate engineering that takes place behind the glass.

What do you think of these x-ray wallpapers,is Awesome right?

[Via: idownloadblog & OSX Daily]

iPad2 survives fall from ‘Space’ with G-Form case

Sure, there are things like “terminal velocity” and the definition of “space” that are used a little loosely here, but it is still all kinds of awesome. The conventional definition of the beginning of space is 100 km above sea level, which is 328,084 feet.  This is ‘just 100,000′ feet.

As a G-Form Extreme Sleeve owner with an abusive toddler, Is can attest that ours has survived about 100,000 feet of drop-age, albeit in 3-foot increments. Amazing right?

[Via: 9to5mac]

Rumor: Apple Preparing $299 iPad With A6 Processor

Taiwanese publication Digitimes is reporting again today that Apple is planning two iPad models, with the low-end version starting at only $299. Both iPads will reportedly boast the new A6 processor and will be differentiated by their screen resolutions.

Sources from Apple’s supply chain have claimed that there will be two versions of the new iPad, one targeting the high-end segment and the other the mid-range. Digitimes Research believe the two new iPad models will both be equipped the A6 processor with high-end model coming with a high resolution panel (2048×1536) and the mid-tier model featuring the same grade of panel as iPad 2 (1024×768).

In my opinion, it makes more sense for Apple to drop the price of the current iPad 2 to $299 and introduce the next-generation model at $499. The idea of Apple releasing two new iPads at once seems a little ridiculous.








[Via: idownloadblog] 

Recalibrate your iPhone’s Home Button to more Responsive

Sometimes the Home button on the iPhone just starts getting a little funky, a little laggy, a bit unresponsive.

Most of the time, those issues are software based, unless of course you’ve dropped your iPhone in water while feeding your pet fish.

For us non-fish owners, iDB confirmed that a simple recalibration is usually all that’s needed to fix most issues with the iPhone’s Home button. Take a look at their video tutorial inside as below:-

How to Recalibrate Your iDevice’s Home Button?

Step 1: Open a stock app, like Weather or Stocks.

Step 2: Press and hold your power button until “slide to power off” appears and release.

Step 3: Press and hold your Home button until the “slide to power off” goes away, and the app force quits. Your iPhone’s Home button should now be more responsive, because it has been recalibrated.

I got good results after Recalibrate. What about you?

[Via: idownloadblog]