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Apple Watch 2 will reportedly debut at March event
If the rumors are true, Apple's next big reveal will happen in March. 9to5Mac reports that Cupertino is planning to pull the wraps off of the Apple Watch 2 at the event, which would be the second consecutive year the company held a product announcement in that month. Details are scarce on version 2.0 of the company's smart watch for now, but reports suggest that Apple has a new camera, wireless connectivity, revamped sleep tracking and upgraded health sensor tech in the works for the device. Bands with built-in senors are also rumored to be on the way and the report says that the Watch 2 will go on sale in April.
Time Warner Cable will test internet-only TV in NYC next week
If you want cable TV without the cable box, Time Warner Cable may have something for you soon. Reliable sources tell Engadget that starting Monday, Time Warner Cable will beta test a version of its TWC TV service made available for the company's internet-only customers living in New York City. Similar to Sky's Now TV in the UK it will support a number of hardware platform but the plan is to focus on streaming TV through Roku's set-top boxes, and any participants will get a Roku 3 for free. On top of their internet service, customers can pick up a "Starter" TV package for an extra $10 per month. Another option that adds Showtime and Starz will be available for $20 per month, and for those who want all the usual channels but without a cable box, a Standard option with Showtime and Starz costs $50 per month. Judging by the usual cable packages, Starter customers should have about 20 channels, while the Standard package has more than 70.
BlackBerry might have leaked the Priv's specs and release date (update: confirmed)
BlackBerry's been drip-feeding data about its first Android phone for the last few weeks, but it looks as if someone's spilled the rest of the beans a little bit early. An eagle-eyed member of the Crackberry forums found a page on the firm's website that shared the spec list and price for the US and Canadian version of the device. If accurate, then we know that the Priv is packing a fair bit of power beneath the hood, but has a listed price of $749. There's no indication if that figure is for the US or Canada -- but the page does reference the (GSM) handset not working on American CDMA networks like Verizon and Sprint. You'll also spot that the device is marked for release on November 16th, so we won't have long to find out if all of this is true or not.
Twitter will reportedly nix the 140-character limit with a new product
Do you find yourself needing more than 140 characters to get your point across on Twitter? Well, you might soon have an option that allows you to be a bit more verbose. Re/code reports that the social network is prepping "a new product" that will allow users to compose and share longer tweets. Details are scarce right now, but Re/code's sources indicate that the new feature/app/etc. will enable Twitter users to post long-form musings. What's more, the company is looking into other ways of relaxing that character count by not counting links and usernames in the tally. These developments would follow recent Twitter tweaks like the "retweet with comment" feature and dropping the 140-character limit on DMs. As is the case with any rumor like this, we may never see the changes make it to the company's apps or the web, but if it does, you can expect a few more words in your timeline.
Is a Roku 4 with 4K coming this way?
It was 2013 the last time that Roku launched a new flagship streaming box, and while we still adore the 3, the hardware can't avoid the ravages of time. Our friends over at Zatz Not Funny are reporting that the company is gearing up to replace it with a new high-end unit, the imaginatively-named Roku 4. As well as being the fourth in the series, the hardware expected to launch with 4K video playback as its primary selling point. The rumor began when streaming service Cinema Now accidentally launched a promotion for free HD rentals with every new Roku 4. Whoops.
Nexus '5X' and '6P' boxes leak out ahead of Google's Android event (update)
Names, specs and pictures of the next Google-brand phones have already been floating around, and now Android Police has what it says are the retail boxes for the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. If you'll recall, these are the rumored LG (5X) and Huawei (6P) devices that Google will introduce at its Android-flavored breakfast meeting one week from today. Of course, most of our speculation is about what else might be there (new Chromecast?), but this peek can help you get an idea of how the eventual unboxing process will begin. Update: Need a better look at the actual phones? Android Police has also obtained a fairly clear render of the Huawei-built 6P, with its odd back and rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.
Google's likely Nexus/Android event is happening September 29th
Google just sent over an invite for "some tasty new treats and much s'more" September 29th in San Francisco. It didn't say what will be revealed but based on the timing, we're thinking Android Marshmallow release, plus new hardware in the Nexus and Chromecast families? Recent leaks have pointed to Nexus phones from both LG and Huawei, while the Chromecast family may be expanding and getting rounder. Amazon and Apple debuted new devices for the TV this month, and we can't see the folks at Google/Alphabet letting that go without a response. Whatever desserts Google is bringing, we'll be there at 12PM ET / 9AM PT on September 29th to find out. [Image credit: AFP/Getty Images]
Report: the iPhone 6s will get 'always-on' Siri mode
As usual before an Apple event (which is today, in case you've been cave-bound), the rumor mill is churning out new information. We're now hearing that Apple TV will run an all-new operating system called osTV, based on iOS 9, according to 9 to 5 Mac. It'll reportedly carry a similar interface to the current Apple TV, but will sport iOS 9 (and OS X El Capitan) touches like transparency effects. The changes don't sound too drastic, but new Apple TV OS branding that matches watchOS and iOS would be a new development. Apple TV is supposed to also get a new AirBnB app.
What's inside the TV Apple is definitely not going to make
Almost as soon as TVs started to get flatter, they slowly added intelligence too. But compared to the progress of phones, tablets and laptops, our HDTVs are still lagging far behind. If all of the rumors are true, tomorrow Apple will make its fourth attempt at filling the gap with a new TV box. Apple's TV ambitions predate Engadget and even the iPod -- the Apple Interactive Television Box had a cloud DVR vision back in 1994 -- and accordingly, over the last decade, rumors of what the company might do have taken on a life of their own. This week we're expecting to see the natural evolution of a "hobby" the company has slowly cultivated since Apple TV launched in 2007, but what if it went the other way? Even with millions of squared-off hockey pucks on shelves around the world, pivoting to an iSight-equipped, Intel-powered plasma straight out of a Gene Munster/Mary Shelley bedtime story could be just what we need. A 180-degree turn into the high end that's crazy instead of boring: Meet the Apple TV that never was.
Rumor: LG releasing a phone with a secondary 'ticker' display
LG is launching a phone called the V10 with a small auxiliary "ticker" display above the main screen, according to Evan Blass (@evleaks) and photos from Chinese regulator Tenaa. That might sound bizarre, but it was actually used before on Samsung's Continuum, a 2010 Galaxy S Verizon variant. Still, it's a unusual idea for a modern phone that otherwise looks rather decent. According to Blass, it'll have a 5.7-inch 2,560 x 1,440 screen, Snapdragon 808 CPU, 3GB memory, 16-megapixel rear/5-megapixel front cameras, expandable memory and a back fingerprint scanner.
Apple will reportedly outfit the 21.5-inch iMac with a 4K display
Almost a year ago, Apple put a Retina display inside its 27-inch desktop. A report from 9to5Mac says we could see a high-res panel on the smaller 21.5-inch model soon as well. The word comes from Mark Gurman, who has a solid track record for news like this, of the new iMac initially tipped by clues inside the upcoming OS X El Capitan. Despite the larger all-in-one getting a 5K Retina panel last fall, the report claims that the 21.5-inch version will come equipped with a 4K display and resolution of 4,096 x 2,304 (up from the current 1,920 x 1,080). While Apple has an iPhone-focused event scheduled for next week, Gurman says the new iMac won't be announced until next month. If you're not too thrilled about paying a premium for a higher-resolution display, chances are the current model will remain available. Even after the 27-inch Retina model arrived, the 1440p option stuck around.
Sony spokesman says the Xperia Z5 'Premium' has a 4K screen
Sony's incoming Xperia Z5 flagship will be the first smartphone with a 4K screen, according to a leaked video from Clubic.com. In it, Sony's marketing director says the company will release both a 5.2-inch Z5 and 5.5-inch Z5 'Premium,' and the video (below) is focused on the larger model. On top of the 4K screen (which yields over 800 pixels per inch), the device also packs a 23-megapixel camera with a 0.03 second autofocus and 5X digital zoom, confirming a previous leak. The new flagship will be just as waterproof and dustproof as the Xperia Z3+ model, but with an interesting twist -- the micro-USB connector is waterproof, even without a cover.
Verizon's mythical Droid Maxx 2 gets pictured
Motorola's deal with Verizon meant that it was always likely that the Moto X Play would come to the US, just not as the Moto X Play. Now, Android Police believe that they've scored some photos of the handset that has now been rechristened as the Droid Maxx 2. The only notable difference that the site can find between the two is that this version of the device is only packing 8.14GB of internal storage. That could simply be a pre-production issue or a sign that Big Red wants to trim the price down to well below the $476 it sells for over in the UK. Let's hope that our new corporate masters don't keep us waiting long before this phone hits stores -- we hate being kept in suspense.
Huawei Nexus leak reveals a weird camera hump
Google's Nexus phablet from Huawei looks like a steamroller ran over a periscope, if a leak from China's iNexus.co has any merit. Google is reportedly releasing two new Nexus models with Android M, a 5.2-inch model from LG and 5.7-incher from Chinese manufacturer Huawei. The LG version already leaked, but the above photo is the first we've seen of the Huawei variant (other than a render). We're not quite sure what to make of it -- there appears to be a large, oval cutout at the top for a camera module, a decidedly odd design choice.
Google's upcoming Nexus phone might look like this
We know another Nexus smartphone is coming soon, but built by whom? Both Huawei and LG are rumored to be making Google's reference device for Android M, and we now have pretty solid evidence for LG. A picture of the device from an Indonesian G+ user spotted by blogger Marques Brownlee shows the back of an LG Nexus device. Size-wise, it appears to line up with the 5.2-inch rumors and also features a rear fingerprint scanner, bulging camera, laser focus, dual-LED, iPhone 6-style flash and plastic galore.
Bloomberg: Apple TV service is not coming in 2015
In keeping with the requirement of a new Apple TV rumor every few weeks, Bloomberg says the yet-to-be-announced subscription package will not debut until at least 2016. Its sources echo the Buzzfeed's recent claim that a new Apple TV box will be unveiled this fall, however difficulty negotiating deals with content providers and building up a network capable of delivering that much video is delaying the rollout of a video service. Another problem cited is finding "the right mix" of channels to sell for about $40 per month, an issue also faced by competition like PlayStation Vue and Sling TV. Sling TV has also faced a few outages, demonstrating the difficulty of maintaining a network to reliable handle the bandwidth requirements of so much live and on-demand video. There's no mention of the possibility of an app store or gaming in this report, so we'll pencil those in for the next leak from anonymous sources in a few weeks. [Image credit: Paul Sakuma/Associated Press]
Facebook is reportedly building a breaking news notification app
Right now, the easiest way to read breaking news on your smartphone is to download a dedicated news reader app, something like Paper or Flipboard -- but rumor has it that Facebook is working on something different. According to Business Insider, Facebook is developing a decentralized news app that simply pushes breaking news notifications and links to your mobile device. The app is reportedly in its early stages, but could be a way for Facebook to displace Twitter as a favorite place to look for breaking news.
Latest Apple TV rumor: new box in September, but no TV service yet
If you thought that the lack of a new Apple TV during the company's last developer conference would put a halt to the rumors then... you must not have been paying attention for the last few years. Buzzfeed sources say a revamped set-top box will arrive in September with the previously rumored slimmed-down size, more powerful hardware inside, touchpad (and perhaps TouchID) equipped remote and most importantly, an actual App Store. The third gen Apple TV has gone several years without changes so a refresh is certainly in order, but the other half of the rumor says Apple's long-rumored subscription TV setup will not launch with it. While the folks in Cupertino work out those last few deals and decide if they really want a Sling TV or Playstation Vue-style slim bundle of channels, you can decide if buying a soon-to-be-outdated model is worth keeping access to YouTube. [Image credit: Jamie Mann / Alamy]
Apple rumored to let other companies make Watch chargers
Apple is believed to be ready to let third parties build magnetic charging cables for the Apple Watch in the same way as it does for the iPhone and iPad. A report by 9to5Mac claims that the company is gearing up to launch a Made for Apple Watch licensing program that'll enable other firms to build their own. Currently, watch stands have to have a groove cut out of them into which you can cram your bundled charging cable. Unfortunately, that's not a very elegant solution for your nightstand, especially if you've dropped $100 on a custom dock. If the report is to believed, then we should start seeing integrated chargers all over the place by early 2016.
WSJ: Samsung launching Galaxy Note 5 early to beat Apple
Samsung is believed to be bringing the launch date of the Galaxy Note 5 forward by a few weeks in order to beat Apple to the punch. The Wall Street Journal believes that the Korean company will announce its phablet gigantophone in August and get it into stores ahead of the iPhone 6S. It's a break from tradition, since Samsung normally refreshes the Note line at IFA in the first week of September. Last year, however, the iPhone 6 arrived around the same time and, presumably, stole enough thunder to prompt the change.
