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Apple's 'Let's Talk iPhone' keynote liveblog!
Hey! You made it! But it's a little early. Not to worry, though -- bookmark this page (yes, this one!) and return at the time listed below for our blow-by-blow coverage live from Cupertino!Psst... and toss your own time zone / day in comments below! 07:00AM - Hawaii10:00AM - Pacific11:00AM - Mountain12:00PM - Central01:00PM - Eastern06:00PM - London07:00PM - Paris09:00PM - Moscow02:00AM - Tokyo (October 5th)
iPhone 4S landing on October 14th according to Apple Store page in Japan
Well, Tim Cook has yet to even take the stage and already the leaks are starting to pour in. It started with a pair of images buried in the Apple store's HTML code. But, perhaps more telling, was the page for the Ginza, Japan store listing the launch of the iPhone 4S as a featured event starting at 8am on October 14th. While that doesn't necessarily mean the tweaked iPhone 4 variant will launch everywhere on the same day, it seems a safe bet that the US and UK will be getting in on the action that Friday morning.Update: Well, that was short lived. The text is gone... for now.
Namco's 'Rise of Glory' is one of the first iOS 5 games, launching alongside new iPhone
When Apple holds its big iPhone presser later today, one of the titles it'll be featuring as a showcase for the next iteration of iOS will be Namco's WWI-based dogfighter, "Rise of Glory." Despite being previously given a late September launch date, the game will now arrive "whenever Apple's next iPhone launches," Namco reps told me. And not only will it arrive with some extra juice from the new tech, but it'll also have all the bells and whistles that iOS 5 adds to Apple's suite of iOS-powered devices, such as iCloud and AirPlay support -- as well as a few other new additions from iOS 5 that Namco couldn't speak about just yet. I played the game briefly this morning at a Namco preview event on an iPad 2. Reps explained that it had been developed for iPad 2, the idea being that speculation on the next iPhone has it packing the tablet's A5 chipset (or something even more powerful). As the video above can attest to, Rise of Glory is a dogfighting game with tilt controls and some pretty swanky graphics. When it does eventually arrive on the App Store, it'll be available for a variety of iOS devices, but it'll shine on the still unannounced iPhone ... something. Update: Apple's iPhone 4S has been unveiled, albeit accidentally, and is said to launch in Japan on October 14, with an expected launch in North America and Europe later that week.
Engadget, broadcasting live from Apple's 'Let's Talk iPhone' event in Cupertino!
We did it at WWDC, and we're doing it from 1 Infinite Loop in Cupertino, California. Apple's holding its hotly-anticipated iPhone 5 (and iPhone 4s?) launch event here this morning, and we're on-hand to bring you a bit of pre- and post-show banter. Join Tim Stevens, Darren Murph and a plethora of Sesame Street characters* as we break down what's likely to go down during today's "Let's Talk iPhone" event. And once we're ushered inside (you know, where live video streams aren't allowed), follow our liveblog right here. Check out the video after the break. *Pending a response from Cookie Monster's publicist. %Gallery-135701% Update: And we're done! Stay tuned for the liveblog and more throughout the day!
Engadget will be broadcasting live outside of Apple's 'Let's Talk iPhone' event!
It's all going down tomorrow, and you can bet your bottom dollar (or last prepaid SIM, whichever you prefer) that we'll be liveblogging it all on these pages right here. But prior to Apple's "Let's Talk iPhone" event, we'll be set up outside of the company's Cupertino headquarters in order to bring live pre-show analysis, including the very latest rumblings from the Apple mecca and any top-secret tips on ditching work in order to follow along. Just so we're clear, Apple doesn't allow live video streaming during the keynote, but our usual liveblog can be followed October 4th starting at 1:00PM ET (10:00am local time) right here. It might get a wee bit insane.
WSJ: Sprint places $20 billion order for next iPhone, hinges company future on Apple's handset?
Oh, iFaithful, your newest Apple phone(s) are only a day away. Which is even more reason to hunker down into this latest chunk of pre-announcement gossip. According to information obtained by the Wall Street Journal, Sprint's betting the farm on a 30 million-plus order of next-generation iPhones to put it on an even battle ground with heavyweight rivals AT&T and Verizon. The cost of this loss-absorbing gamble? That would be about $20 billion, with the Hesse-led co. subsidizing the $500 cost of each handset. For the third place operator it's matter of do-or-die, as there really isn't an alternative to the critically-praised, Jony Ive-designed handset that set off this smartphone race. Further underscoring the company's current plight are comments Hesse's purportedly made to the company board, linking customer churn to its iPhone omission. It remains to be seen if Sprint pull off this feat, and convert its base of 52 million subscribers (mostly pre-paid) into the contracted customers it needs to stay financially afloat. While an iPhone on Sprint certainly seems a given, it's unclear whether this next device will opt for a WiMAX or LTE radio.
Apple's 'Let's Talk iPhone' event is tomorrow -- get your liveblog right here!
Apple pulled a fast one by leaving the iPhone 5 in its back pocket during WWDC, and little did we know that it'd be Tim Cook -- not Steve Jobs -- revealing the company's next-gen handset. 'Course, Tim already had a bit of experience by doing the honors alongside Lowell McAdam for the Verizon iPhone 4, but this is another beast entirely. Will the "Let's Talk iPhone" keynote bring about a cheaper, perhaps prepaid iPhone 4s? Will Sprint finally get an iPhone to call its own? Will the iPhone 5 read our minds? Will this change everything, despite everything already being changed? Bookmark this page here and return at the times below for our blow-by-blow coverage live from Cupertino!Psst... and toss your own time zone / day in comments below! 07:00AM - Hawaii10:00AM - Pacific11:00AM - Mountain12:00PM - Central01:00PM - Eastern06:00PM - London07:00PM - Paris09:00PM - Moscow02:00AM - Tokyo (October 5th)
Vodafone Germany lists "iPhone 4S" at 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
Tomorrow is Apple's big press event and, as expected, rumors about the upcoming iPhone models are beginning to escalate. In the past several days, the iPhone 4S has been spotted at Cincinnati Bell's website and Apple's inventory system and the iPhone 5 has surfaced at Radio Shack. Today, we can add another entry to this list - Vodafone Germany. The above placeholder for the iPhone 4S was spotted in listings for various iPhone accessories on the mobile carrier's website. The listing includes both white and black models of the iPhone 4S in 16, 32, and 64 GB capacities. These sizes and colors match perfectly with one expectation for the next generation iPhone model. Fortunately, we only have to wait until Tuesday to find out whether Apple is releasing either the iPhone 4S, the iPhone 5 or both.
Is this Apple's cheaper iPhone 4?
See that? That just might be the cheaper iPhone that Apple's rumored to formally unveil on Tuesday. Gizmodo Brazil managed to get a hold of a purported iPhone 4s from within a Brazilian Foxconn factory, and while the hardware itself looks just about identical to the iPhone 4 that exists today, there's a new SKU that's leading to understandable speculation. The N90A model number that popped up has certainly emerged before, but where things really get interesting is the "reprovado" ("disqualified") labeling. Is this batch an early set of prototypes that didn't quite pass QA? Will the eventual iPhone 4s even look anything like the iPhone 4 that's on shelves today? You can bet we'll be on hand in Cupertino to find out, and there's no time like the present to clear out your Tuesday morning / afternoon / evening schedule (depending on time zone, of course) to find out with us.
iPhone 5 / 4S placeholders pop up at Cincinnati Bell, questionable specs in tow
It looks like the iPhone speculation train is gaining steam on the way to its final destination, and this time it's flying by Cincinnati Bell's pre-paid service, i-Wireless. A helpful tipster sent in the above screenshot of an iPhone 5 placeholder, accompanied by a $639.99 price tag and a handful of specs: 32GB, 4-inch screen and 4G data speeds. Our friends over at TUAW have also procured a screenshot (after the break) from the same site, displaying a $99.99 16GB iPhone 4S, sporting a 5MP camera, 3.5-inch screen and an A5 processor. Of course, there's also a chance these are just placeholders, but we're hoping Tuesday's announcement will bear dual fruits, nonetheless.[Thanks, Cory]
Radio Shack inventory screen pegs iPhone 5 for Sprint
Could it be? Are the rumors true? If this screenshot, apparently culled from Radio Shack's inventory system, is any indication, Sprint will indeed be among the carriers offering the iPhone 5. That lines up just right with previous reports from Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal, slating the phone to hit the Now Network in mid-October. There's no indication of actual dates at this point, but if Sprint's getting Apple's next-gen iPhone, we're guessing we'll hear more about it on Tuesday.[Thanks, Anon]
iPhone 4S appears in Apple's inventory
We really don't know for sure what kind of new iPhone Apple will announce next week, but here's another vote for a revision of the iPhone 4 rather than an all-new iPhone 5. 9to5Mac is reporting that the iPhone 4S has popped up as an entry in Apple's own inventory systems, which seems (if true) like a pretty good indication that Apple will indeed offer a tweaked version of the current iPhone 4. Perhaps most interesting, the information reportedly found in Apple's inventory is linked up to the Chinese label for an iPhone 4S above. That label appeared a little while ago and has some info on it that might now actually be legit. The IMEI and MEID indications on the label also hint that a 4S would be compatible with the CDMA and GSM networks, which is a rumor that has been around for quite a while as well. None of this is confirmed, obviously, and even if there is an iPhone 4S, that still doesn't mean Apple isn't also planning to release an iPhone 5. While somewhat unlikely that Apple would split the lines up, there's certainly demand for both phones, and a smaller price on one of them could make the audience even bigger. As usual, we'll have to wait and see what Apple reveals for us next week.
TUAW TV Live at 5 PM EDT: iPhone anticipation episode
Apple's announced the upcoming event at which we all hope to hear about a new iPhone or two, and I'm as giddy as a schoolgirl with anticipation. Well, as giddy as a 54 year-old guy can get, y'know? Today on TUAW TV Live, I want to share some thoughts and hopes for the new device(s) with you, and get your ideas about what we're going to see next Tuesday. Since it's going to be "your show," joining the chat is a must. The chat tool can be accessed via the TUAW page you'll at 5 PM Eastern, through the Ustream page, or through IRC using server chat1.ustream.tv and room #tuaw-tv. As usual, I'll be starting the show at 5 PM EDT (2 PM PDT / 10 PM BST) sharp, and we'll take a few minutes to chat before the discussion starts. To join in on the chat and watch the live streaming video, drop by TUAW about five minutes before the start time to get your instructions on how to participate. If you're unable to join us for the show, remember that you can always subscribe to the video podcast and watch the show at your leisure in iTunes or any other favorite podcatching app. The past shows are also available on the TUAW YouTube channel.
Apple wants to 'talk iPhone' on October 4th
Well, it's about freaking time! Apple has finally begun sending out invites for its upcoming press conference, and the company's being none too subtle with the hints, offering up some familiar app icons in the artwork and the tagline "Let's talk iPhone." As to whether it'll be an iPhone 5, 4S or some other new formation, we'll all have to wait until the event to find out -- and you'd better believe we'll be there at Apple's Cupertino headquarters to find out.
What would a 4S mean to you?
I love my 3GS. I still use it on a daily basis as one of my primary dev units. It has a lovely PayGo SIM in it, with inexpensive data. It's an absolutely brilliant device and my love for my iPhone 4 does not diminish the 3GS's utility. I never bothered to purchase an iPhone 3G. Although I used several on contracts, it never passed the barrier of "worth buying." From several years distance, I'm even more sure that I made the right choice. (And yes, I know there are many of you out there who adore your 3G units. I'm not trying to take away from that.) The iPhone 3G was basically a first generation phone with upgrade 3G/GPS capabilities and a slightly modified case. But the iPhone 3GS? It was a completely different beast under the hood. The 3G vs the 3GS The model numbers tell it all. The first generation iPhone was the iPhone 1,1. The 3G was the iPhone 1,2. With the same processor, the same memory, etc, not much had changed -- especially if the 3G service in your area was spotty. With good 3G coverage, the usability took a huge jump forward, but for much of Denver at the time that simply wasn't a factor. Fast forward to the iPhone 3GS (aka the iPhone 2,1). Belying its visual and tactile similarity to the 3G, it was a completely different animal. With a massively improved chip, better RAM, a usable autofocus camera, improved battery life and stand-out features like Voice Control, it truly distinguished itself. The name might have been similar, the case might have been similar, but the phone was not. iPhone 4S or iPhone 5 That's why I don't care if the new phone in October will be an iPhone 4S versus an iPhone 5. Yes, I expect the form factor to mirror the iPhone 4 (which, frankly, is a great phone). The early release of cases supports that form likelihood. But I'm thinking that there's a lot Apple can get done with extra chip power and possibly more RAM, along with the same brilliant Retina display. The camera may get a boost, and I would be delighted if the capacities each got a power-up -- although I'm always thinking capacities will go up and they never really do as much as I think they will. I'm also thinking that we're going to see extra hardware features like battery bumps, additional sensors, and more. It's fruitless to speculate, however, as to what Apple will surprise you with. As for an iPhone 5, what would make me sad would be if I signed up for a 4S contract and the iPhone 5 debuted fewer than six months later. Of course, Apple could possibly introduce both at once, but I'm wondering why all the buzz, and all the early retail leaks seem to have missed the 5 unit (which we've had hints about in terms of parts and production, but little solid in the way of facts). The winning iPhone 4S scenario I'd be particularly happy if iPhone 4S sold with two key elements: multi-carrier support built-in, and sold contract-free. Admittedly, my world view is heavily influenced by the fact that I often need at least one of each unit on-hand for writing and development. At the same time, I think I could still recommend both the 3GS and the 4 as solid purchase options for anyone jumping onto the iPhone bandwagon. I'd probably recommend against going into a contract with the 3GS. I'd also recommend springing for a newer 4S over a 4 unless there were some brilliant financing at work, but a 4 remains a really great model. What tantalizes is that we have had enough rumors of a 5 with a redesigned case to be at least somewhat credible. However, the evidence for the 4S is building to inevitable with multiple sources chiming in over the last few weeks. Jump now or wait? So the question people coming to me with is this: Should I jump on the 4S or hold out for the 5? My answer is this: If you still haven't bought iPhone or are upgrading for the iPhone 3GS or earlier, grab the 4S. I bet it's going to be spectacular. For iPhone 4 owners, whose contracts are due to run out in February or later (or so my latest query tells me from AT&T), and who don't need the latest/greatest right away -- you probably can afford to wait. If you really want to wait. Of course, come October everything may change. If Apple announces must-have features that mirror the 3GS-from-3G or 4-from-3GS transition brilliance, just drop everything. Pay the fines, buy the goodies. Because Apple has delivered brilliant in the past. There's no reason to think it won't do so again.
Did a white iPhone 4S just pop up in AT&T's system?
Judging from the clandestine screenshot you see above, it most certainly seems like that's the case. A helpful tipster sent us this tasty morsel, from AT&T's internal system, listing the "iPhone 4s White" beneath a handful of already familiar Apple handsets. Could it be? Is Cupertino actually planning on bringing a white version of its next iPhone out at launch? We're afraid only time will tell.
iPhone prototype N94 leaked, possibly to be an iPhone 4S
There are lots of crazy rumors flying around about the new iPhone announcement coming later on this year (or as soon as next month), but this is one of the more credible. The picture above comes from a site called UbreakIfix through our friends at Engadget, and purports to show a prototype for the iPhone called the N94. It's a long story (which you can click through to read yourself), but essentially, the latest rumor says that this device is the latest testing version of what may become an "iPhone 4S," a slightly cheaper version of the iPhone 4 set to be introduced right alongside the iPhone 5. Of course, these are all still rumors, and Engadget admits the timing isn't quite right on this one -- this is apparently an "Engineering Verification Test" piece from last March, which makes it older than some of the other prototypes that have reportedly leaked out. It's unknown whether this is the real thing or just another test unit. But the wheels are clearly in motion on a new iPhone. And if the rumors play out as predicted later on next month, we might see not one but two new iPhones available for purchase.
iPhone N94 prototype's front assembly leaked, set to be an iPhone 4S?
As we approach the rumored September or October launch date for the next batch of iPhones, the web's been spiced up with photos of alleged parts for an "N94" iPhone prototype. We've been rather skeptical about them until the above photos landed in our inbox, courtesy of our friends from uBreakiFix. A little while back we'd already heard from our other sources that the N94 is set to be a cheaper version of the current iPhone 4 (probably the 8GB iPhone 4 mentioned by Reuters last week), which would explain why all these components and cables look super familiar. The only notable difference here is the funny dot right next to the sensor location above the earpiece -- the dotted pattern is very much like that used by the microphone and the webcam LED indicator on Mac computers, but obviously the latter is more likely the case here.That said, do bear in mind that according to the mark along the bottom of this part, we're apparently looking at an "EVT1" (Engineering Verification Test) piece from March 3rd 2011 (making it about three months older than the white N94 back covers that made the rounds last week, assuming they're legit). Additionally, when our sources last checked around June and July, the N94 had yet to hit the DVT stage, so it's hard to determine whether these parts will remain the same in the final design, or whether the N94 will even make it to the production line at all.On the other hand, our sources pointed out that an elusive N97 device -- previously reported by the Wall Street Journal as a tiny iPhone -- had already reached "DVT" (Design Verification Test) stage back in June, though there's little information about it other than that it's been tested with various cellular technologies (though plagued by some bugs related to switching between specific frequencies back then), plus it may sport a camera module supplied by Sony, which was semi-confirmed by Howard Stringer himself back in April. Whatever the N97 ends up being, hopefully we'll have something at least as slim as our little souvenir from Beijing.
Apple to release cheaper, 8GB iPhone 4 within weeks?
As the world waits for Apple to release the iPhone 5, Reuters is reporting that Cupertino may be refreshing the iPhone 4, as well. According to two anonymous sources "with knowledge of the matter," an unnamed Korean manufacturer has already begun producing parts for a cheaper, 8GB version of the smartphone, slated to launch within the next few weeks. As for that next-gen handset, the insiders went on to say that the iPhone 4S / iPhone 5 will feature a more spacious touchscreen, better antenna and eight megapixel shooter, and that Apple is indeed aiming for a late September launch, after having already asked manufacturers Hon Hai and Pegatron to prep their facilities for the production of 45 million units, altogether. Details, as usual, are still scarce at this point, but we'll let you know as soon as we get more information.
Apple actually not looking for additional iPad manufacturers, still BFFs with Foxconn?
Earlier this week, DigiTimes alleged that Apple was considering an additional manufacturer to produce the supposedly looming -- but really more mythical -- next generation iPad. Fast forward to now, and the Taiwanese publication reports that Cupertino has had a sudden change of heart. Foxconn -- who is currently the sole producer of the slate -- has reportedly convinced Apple to keep its manufacturing exclusive until the end of this calendar year. All isn't lost for Foxconn's competition though: the rumormonger suggests Pegatron still has a shot at a ten million production run for the next iPhone, and whatever iPad's 2012 will bring. Unmentioned in the report, however, is whether enough salt exists in the world to cover the next round of claims, later this week.
