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Apple hints at OS X rebrand in the App Store
If you think about it, OS X isn't really a great name for Apple's Mac operating system. It was just meant to be the next OS after Mac OS 9, but because it has a nice round (roman) number and used all-new UNIX-based tech, Apple has stuck with the name for nigh on 17 years. According to the rumor mill and apparent slip-up on the App Store, that's about to change, however. It now seems likely that Apple will change OS X to macOS, essentially reverting to its pre-1999 naming scheme.
Apple standalone 5K display might include its own graphics chip
To call Apple's Thunderbolt Display long in the tooth would be an understatement. It's so old that the first Retina display Macs were still a year away when it was new, and it's now easy to get a 4K display for less. At last, though, it looks like Apple might be ready to give its standalone screen an upgrade... with an interesting twist, to boot. Sources for 9to5Mac understand that Apple is building a 5K display that includes its own graphics chipset. It'd be an odd move, but it would let many Macs use the display, not just high-end models. If your Mac's onboard graphics weren't fast enough, it'd automatically switch to the monitor's GPU.
Rumors are flying about new Xbox consoles and streaming devices
E3 kicks off on June 12th and Microsoft will be there in full-force, showing off the latest and greatest Xbox games and hardware. The company hasn't yet revealed what it'll announce at the big show, but The Verge and Kotaku claim Xbox is working on two new devices -- however, that's where the reports' similarities stop.
This is what Samsung's Gear Fit 2 (probably) looks like
As much as it's possible to know anything about a company before it's had the press conference, we know Samsung's got wearable ambitions. In addition to a pair of Bragi-like wireless earbuds, the firm is putting the finishing touches to an updated version of the Gear Fit smartwatch it released in 2014. If this leaked publicity shot is to be believed, then the Gear Fit 2 will look smaller and sleeker than its predecessor. It chimes with earlier rumors that claimed the device would pack a 1.84-inch AMOLED screen, integrated GPS and 4GB of built-in storage. As for a release date, it's pegged for June, but take everything written above with the traditional pinch of salt.
Google's own interpretation of Amazon's Echo is coming soon
All of a sudden, it's as if everyone is working on voice-controlled personal assistants, and reports suggest that Google's version of something similar to Amazon's Echo could land as soon as the Google I/O event next week -- which would make sense. According to sources at Recode, it's currently being developed under the codename, Chirp.
Comcast is reportedly in talks to buy DreamWorks Animation
In the past Dreamworks Animation has been mentioned as a possible purchase for companies including Fox, Hasbro and Softbank, but now reports say it's in talks with Comcast. The Wall Street Journal first reported the discussions, claiming Dreamworks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg is courting an offer from the cable behemoth of over $3 billion. The live action arm of Dreamworks, now renamed Amblin Studios, is distributed by Comcast's Universal Pictures which could bring the two back together in a way after the animation arm spun off on its own in 2004. Also, as The Hollywood Reporter mentions, Universal is already home to Illumination Entertainment, which created Despicable Me and Minions, and sees the two as a competitor to Disney/Pixar.
'PS4.5' report: 4K output, will play nice with older console
The PS4.5 rumors have gotten a bit juicier. The "NEO," as it's being referred to internally, features upgraded specs (an 8-core processor running at 2.1 GHz versus the standard model's 1.6GHz, a stronger GPU and faster RAM) and 4K image output, according to documents obtained by Giant Bomb. But from the sounds of it, Sony is adamant that the NEO should not divide the 35 million-plus userbase of the original PlayStation 4. Specifically, that means the console will use the same PlayStation Network store, same user interface and any purchases made on the base system will carry over.
TiVo and Rovi close to merger deal, says NYT
Rovi is closing in on a deal to buy DVR maker TiVo for an unknown price, according to sources from the New York Times. The exact terms aren't yet known, but TiVo reportedly has a market value of around $750 million. If the name "Rovi" isn't ringing a bell, the company makes interactive TV guides that are used by 18 million or so TV subscribers. You may remember it better for its much-hated DRM copy protection, when it used to be called Macrovision. TiVo, of course, is known (and mostly liked) for ad-skipping DVR products like the 4K TiVo Bolt.
The big VAIO, Toshiba and Fujitsu merger is still on
We've been reporting on rumors that three of Japan's PC makers, VAIO, Toshiba and Fujitsu are planning to merge their computing divisions for a while. Now, Bloomberg has apparently received confirmation that a deal is on the cards thanks to Hidemi Moue, CEO of Vaio's parent company. If the news organization is to be believed, the agreement to bring together the three businesses will be signed by the end of March. The new firm (which is likely to be called VAIO) will control more than 30 percent of Japan's market, making it bigger than current number one Lenovo.
Leaked teaser video shows off waterproof Galaxy S7, S7 Edge
Samsung isn't officially showing off its next flagship phone until the 21st, there's already a video of it available on a company YouTube channel. Imploring us to get ready for #TheNextGalaxy, the video shows off what we're guessing are the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. There's not much in the way of details and the design looks very close to the current S6 lineup, but a rainy segment would appear to confirm rumors of waterproofing. It also appears to have a flat back, confirming a Wall Street Journal report that it would ditch the protruding camera hump this time around.
CBS exec: no recent talks with Apple about a TV service
Since Apple itself doesn't have much to say about its long-rumored TV service, we're forced to look for signals elsewhere. In comments revealed just before CBS announced its earnings today, exec Les Moonves once again filled in the gap. Following previous comments that he believes the service is on hold, Moonves told CNN Money that "we haven't had recent conversations with them." That could mean any potential debut is even further off than we thought, although it doesn't seem to be hurting CBS any. CBS reported (PDF) its highest ever revenue for the fourth quarter, while claiming revenue from retransmission agreements is over $1 billion now, and will be at $2 billion by 2020. According to the exec, "something like 40 percent" of revenue his company is getting, didn't exist five years ago.
Twitter's Facebook-style timeline could arrive next week
Completing the process of Facebook and Twitter doing battle by copying all of each other's features, a report by Buzzfeed says that Twitter could debut its "algorithmic" feed as early as next week. Since it launched, the microblogging service has always displayed tweets in a reverse chronological order. Users have recently spotted tests where tweets were reshuffled out of order, similar to Facebook's method of sorting posts, and executives have hinted at just such a change for years.
Samsung may launch its own phone upgrade program
If Apple and Samsung were humans rather than multi-billion dollar multinational corporations, the best way to describe them would probably be "frenemies." Time and again one looks to the other for inspiration, money, or as a source of parts, and today's no different. The latest? Reuters reports (sourcing Korea's Electronic Times) that the Korean tech giant is going to launch a phone upgrade program like Cupertino did last fall with the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. Basically, you'll be able to upgrade every year so long as you're on a contract.
'Simpsons' creator Matt Groening is in talks with Netflix
Netflix will spend a ton of money on original series to double its output this year, and some of that could be heading Matt Groening's way. Variety and Deadline are reporting that the creator of Simpsons and Futurama is in talks with the streaming network to create a new animated series. There's no word on what it might actually be, but the rumors say Netflix is considering signing up for two ten episode seasons -- and considering Groening's track record, we can see why. [Image credit: Gary Doak / Alamy]
Is Renault facing its own emissions scandal? (updated)
An AFP report, syndicated by The Telegraph, claims that Renault could be facing a Volkswagen-style emissions scandal of its very own. Representatives from the CGT Renault union are claiming that the French car maker's offices were raided by the nation's anti-fraud office last week. The suggestion is that authorities from the agency were interested in the engine control units that are fitted to certain cars. In addition, the personal computers of several directors were seized. Naturally, this news has had a disastrous effect on Renault's share price, with Bloomberg reporting that the potential scandal has caused a fall of 20 percent.
The US wants self-driving cars, and fast
Just a day after a technology-heavy State of the Union comes news that the White House isn't done pushing us into the future. Reuters believes that Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx will head to Detroit tomorrow to talk about the administration's efforts to accelerate the development of self-driving cars. It's said that Google, which has been spearheading the project to build an autonomous vehicle, will also be in attendance at the event. The newswire mentions Mark Rosekind, head of the nation's traffic safety bureau, who has asked for a "nimble, flexible" approach to writing new traffic regulations. Details are still thin on the ground, but it looks as if Obama's "spirit of innovation" is alive and well. [Image Credit: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg/Getty]
Apple is reportedly making premium wireless earbuds for the next iPhone
Rumors have swirled about Apple ditching the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack for much of the last year. Now, one of the most reliable Apple rumor reporters is saying that the iPhone 7 will indeed force owners to use either wireless headphones or a wired option through the device's Lightning port. Mark Gurman at 9to5Mac today posted a report claiming that the 3.5mm headphone jack was history and that Apple is also developing a premium pair of wireless headphones to go with the new phone.
Yeah, there's another rumor about Apple and an OLED iPhone
It's the rumor that simply won't die: Apple will use OLED screens in a future round of iPhones. The latest report comes via Reuters citing unnamed sources from South Korea's Electronic Times (Korean). Also cited was last month's report from Nikkei that stated Apple's intent for the gorgeous screen tech is to add it to the 2018 iPhone.
Best Buy knocks $100 off all its Apple Watches
Here are two pieces of information that you might think that it's worth using to draw a conclusion, or not, we won't judge. First up, Best Buy is offering a $100 discount on the Apple Watches that it sells, meaning that you can grab a base-model 38mm Sport for just $249. Second, rumors have emerged claiming that Apple will launch the second-generation of its wearable at an event in March. Now, if you wanted to imply that the retailer is clearing house in preparation for the inevitable refresh, well, that'd entirely be up to you.
CBS exec says Apple's streaming TV plans are 'on hold'
The other half of the rollout for the new Apple TV has always been a rumored streaming TV service. It wasn't present for the device's launch, and now CBS CEO Les Moonves (who has previously been good for a quote or two on Apple's TV plans) says the project is on ice. Speaking at the Business Insider Ignition conference in New York the exec claimed "They've had conversations on it, and I think they pressed the hold button." According to Bloomberg a source said Apple has suspended its plans, and will go ahead with the Apple TV as a platform for content available via the App Store.
