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Sprint to increase in-store service for iPhone customers
A Sprint training doc leaked by iSource and confirmed to be authentic by Engadget suggests Sprint is increasing its support options for iPhone owners. According to the document, dealers and preferred retailers will offer improved in-store service for iPhone customers starting on October 15. The training starts on September 6 and covers iTunes, iCloud, hardware troubleshooting and software options for iPhone owners. It's required for a range of employees, including managers, sales reps and technicians. The document claims that by the end of the training, Sprint sales reps and techs should be proficient in handling almost any issue Sprint iPhone customers may have. Though many are using this document to claim Sprint will delay the launch of the next iPhone, I don't see any evidence that this document applies to the new iPhone. It's likely a separate program meant to improve customer service, which is an area that Sprint has been focusing on for the past few years.
Nokia Lumia 822 and 5-inch HTC device found in Verizon systems
The Nokia Lumia 820 is fresh on everyone's minds, and rumors of a 5-inch Android device from HTC are floating around, so why not add a couple more pieces of kindling to the fire? We've been handed images of Verizon's device management system (DMD, for short) showing off a couple new devices: the Nokia Lumia 822 (in Gray and White) and the HTC 6435, which we've seen leaked as the potential Galaxy Note competitor. While this doesn't guarantee a surefire launch in any way, phones typically pop up in the DMD a few weeks prior to launch -- and it's good news for two groups of people: Windows Phone fans anxiously awaiting something fresh on the LTE carrier, and phablet fans looking for a device not called the Intuition. [Thanks, Anonymous!]
Rumor Roundup: Case not quite closed
The calendar pages are flipping away rapidly now that the Labor Day break is done; September 12th is right around the corner. As is the way of such things, the wilder speculation and left-field rumors of the fallow months between product introductions gradually give way to the reality of shipping gadgets and actual features. The closer we get to iPhone Day, the more concrete things get; we begin to see the bright line between "rumor" and "news" get fuzzy and soft. That's why this week's Roundup splits its focus between things we think we know, and things we know are fake. German Carriers Receiving Nano SIMs (iFun.de, AppleInsider) The tiny, controversial Nano SIM cards essential for the next-generation iPhone are reportedly showing up at Telekom stores in Germany. As Steve pointed out earlier today, these cards don't have a specific phone associated with them... yet. The other interesting point in this story is that the carrier reps are supposedly also seeing a new 10-euro LTE plan add-on. Right now only one HTC handset is LTE-enabled for Telekom, so it's a fair bet that the next one on the list will be le iPhone nouveau (or, properly, iPhone 5). Sharp Lagging On iPhone Displays (Reuters) A source "familiar with operations" at the Japanese manufacturer told Reuters that production on screens for iPhone 5 is not keeping up with demand, and that the company's profit margins are being squeezed by the high costs of making the new screens. While it's certainly possible that Sharp is running into issues with the newer, thinner in-cell screens that supposedly will front the iPhone 5, the other two manufacturers tasked with building the screens haven't yet said a peep about issues they might be having. In this case, since Apple will be building these widgets as fast as they possibly can, having 1/3 of the screen suppliers struggling to keep up isn't great, but it's not necessarily catastrophic. Video Of Assembled iPhone Next-Gen Parts (MacOtakara, iLab Factory) Proving again that the whole does not equal the sum of its parts, several Japanese sites posted videos of an assembled mockup built from leaked iPhone components. The mockup shows all the rumored features: longer screen, next-gen dock connector, two-tone back panel, and so forth. If the parts are legit -- and at this stage in manufacturing, there's no reason to think they'd be fake -- then the assembly does give some sense of what the iPhone 5 will look like in hand. iPhone 5 Dummy at IFA 2012 (iMore, GSM Israel News) There's an iPhone at IFA! There's an iPhone at IFA! Well, actually, there's not. What was showing up at the European trade show was a dummy iPhone that case makers are "confident" represents the dimensions of the next-gen device. According to the Italian site HDblog.it, similar "mockups" are readily available at retail in China. (Apparently the word "fake" means the same thing in Italian that it does in English.) Nevertheless, the same deal as the Japanese parts assembly above: assuming that the pieces fit together as expected, this should be a reasonable proxy for the finished device. The Verge put together a video hands-on that shows the mockup next to an iPhone 4. Video Shows Redesigned "iPhone 5" Headphones (Tinhte.vn via MacRumors & BGR) Those are some seriously funky earbuds. Are your ears shaped that way? Mine aren't -- but then again, they're also not shaped like the original iPhone earbuds, which I find downright impossible to use. If the Vietnamese site's pictures and video are accurate, Apple's next-gen earbits will be tapered and sleek. That's a pretty big "if," however. As BGR points out, the headphones as pictured lack an in-line remote control -- so they can't possibly be intended for an iPhone in their current build state. iPhone Board Shows A6 CPU Branding (iMore) Given that the ARM chips powering the iPhone and iPad are Apple's own to brand as it sees fit, there wouldn't be much surprise if the next phone carries an "A6" chip versus the A5X quad-core currently found in the Retina-equipped iPad. As iMore points out, the phone version doesn't need four cores, and if it's trying to run LTE it definitely doesn't need the battery drain of that class of CPU. New iPad Model Identifiers Show Up In Logs (Marco.org) Instapaper's head honcho believes he's spotted the telltale signs of the iPad micro in two model identifiers that appeared in his server logs. One would be the WiFi version, the other the LTE or 3G build. Although in theory they could be die shrinks or other modifications of existing models, that's not what Arment's gut tells him. We know from past experience that these browser strings can be forged, but in this case it's plausible that the real devices are really hitting the Instapaper servers. Unfortunately, if the other rumors are true, that won't be confirmed for a month or so.
27-inch iMac in short supply at Apple Stores
There have been persistent reports from a number of sources about shortages of the 27-inch iMac at resellers; now MacRumors is reporting that Apple's retail stores are experiencing short supplies of the popular all-in-one desktop computer. A survey of stock at the 249 Apple Stores in the U.S. through the "Personal Pickup" program shows that the two standard 27-inch configurations are out of stock at just about half of those stores. 120 stores are out of the 27-inch base model, and 135 stores have no current supply of the high-end 27-inch iMac. Most stores are showing pickup dates in the September 4 - 7 range. What's odd is that the shortages are limited only to the 27-inch iMac; the 21.5-inch model is still in stock at most stores. Apple is expected by many pundits to be working on updated iMacs containing the latest Intel Ivy Bridge processors, to be launched in the October timeframe. Although the blogosphere seems to favor a Retina display on any new iMacs, manufacturing constraints make that a possibility for next year, not 2012.
Verizon Turbine 7.0 in the works, likely to be ZTE V66 tablet
What you see above isn't a whole lot to go off of in terms of details, but it's still a bit significant for tablet fans regardless. The image, which displays a page hiding deep within Verizon's internal system, offers the first confirmation of the ZTE V66 tablet's destiny: it shall ride onto Big Red's LTE network as the Verizon Turbine 7.0. We guess the latter name is the catchier of the two. Few other details are known at this point -- hence, the incredibly bare product page -- but the tablet was originally rumored to sport a 7-inch (1,280 x 800) display, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and a 4,000mAh battery. We'd venture to guess that an OS jump to ICS or Jelly Bean should be in the works as well, unless Verizon wants its brand new slate to be dead in the water before it even launches. [Thanks, Anonymous]
Sony A99 rumored specs leak: 24.3 megapixels, 921k-dot LCD and 14 bit RAW output
Sony's not unleashed a full frame camera for some time, so when a purported spec-sheet for the upcoming Alpha A99 breaks cover, we're elbowing our way to the front to see it. According to Sony Alpha Rumors, it'll be a 24.3-megapixel CMOS Exmor sensor with an ISO range of 100-25,600, 14 bit RAW output and a 1/8000 maximum shutter speed. Other nuggets of interest include a 102 point AF system, full 1080p HD video recording (at 60fps) and a 921k dot LCD (like that seen on the A77 pictured). When might we see this come to market? According to the rumor-mill, sometime in October, with an official unveiling in early September. Along with everything else, it seems. Head on down to the source for the full spread.
Motorola RAZR M 4G LTE pics and specs revealed: 4.3-inch qHD display, ICS, 1.5GHz dual-core
We've been hearing about the Motorola XT907 -- an LTE device bound for Verizon -- for quite some time now, but we just got our hands on a full set of specs and even a few pics to go along with it. Let's get started: the Droid RAZR M 4G LTE, as Big Red is planning to call it, will sport a 4.3-inch qHD (960 x 540) Super AMOLED Advanced display -- this will likely be the same ColorBoost panel we recently saw on Sprint's Photon Q -- as well as a dual-core Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB RAM, 8MP rear camera capable of taking 1080p video, a 3MP (yes, three) front-facing shooter, full GSM / UMTS / HSPA+ global roaming and 8GB internal storage with microSD support. Additionally, the RAZR M will offer NFC, Android 4.0 with a virtual row of navigation keys (much like the Atrix HD and Photon Q) and will weigh 4.44 ounces. Gorilla Glass 2 protects the display from scratches, while the back offers the same kind of Kevlar seen on the Droid RAZR and RAZR Maxx. At 8.38mm deep, its thickness appears to be right in between the two aforementioned phones. So that takes care of the mystery behind this particular smartphone, and it's quite likely we'll be getting some quality hands-on time with it alongside the RAZR HD at Moto's September 5th event. Check out the goods in the gallery below. Note: Several commenters have observed that a watermark is blurred out on the image above (as well as one of the gallery shots). These marks reveal personal employee information and have been blurred to protect the identity of the tipster. Several of our gallery shots, however, do not feature these marks. %Gallery-163478% [Thanks, Anonymous]
HTC Proto breaks cover, brings the New Desire V out of China
Rumors have been circulating that HTC was planning a mid-cycle replacement for the One V, the Proto, that would keep the line relevant in the face of some noticeably tougher competition. It may be more of a reality than a notch on the roadmap. As long as The Verge's press renders are authentic, the Proto should be an almost straightforward, international edition of the previously China-only New Desire V (T328w). HTC wouldn't be reinventing the wheel -- it would reportedly add a much-needed second core to the 1GHz processor but keep the same 5-megapixel camera, 4GB of storage and 7.2Mbps 3G as the smartphone's early 2012 prequel; though we'd imagine the second SIM slot would be nixed. If, where and when the Proto shows up is still left to the imagination, though. Next week's IFA show is a tempting target for a late 2012 release, but there's no hard and fast rule that any introduction has to coincide with a major event.
Olympus confirms new high-end Four Thirds DSLR 'currently under study' following vague Facebook post
Visitors to Olympus' UK Facebook page were met with some "BREAKING NEWS!!" on Friday. According to the post, the camera maker is developing a new DSLR that would theoretically offer focusing performance on par with the OM-D, while providing native compatibility with the company's high-end Zuiko Digital ED lenses, such as the 90-250mm f/2.8. We reached out to Olympus reps in the US, who added the following: "A new camera body is currently under study to complement our line of Zuiko Digital Specific Four Thirds lenses. However, Olympus has NOT issued a press release on this new camera body." With Photokina just a month away, it's unclear whether or not this new mystery DSLR will make its debut there, but it's certainly a possibility. As for looks -- that's anyone's guess, though the company's social media arm opted to include a picture of the E-5, which serves as Olympus' current full-size flagship. You'll find the full Facebook post at the source link below.
OnLive reportedly shutting down, new company forming in its wake (update: OnLive says 'of course not')
Well, here's a bit of a shocker. After a strong showing at E3 and partnerships with companies like OUYA, gaming service OnLive is reportedly closing down, with an entire staff layoff resulting. At a glance, this sure feels a lot like the similar rise and fall of InstantAction, which was attempting to pull off something similar with cloud-based gaming. Polygon is reporting the story as relayed to the site by game developer Brian Fargo. We've reached out to the company and received a non-comment comment, "We don't respond to rumors and have no comment." Our OnLive contact also used the opportunity to plug its Google TV tie-ins and few giveaways -- so, for the moment at least, things seem to be moving along as usual. Update: Joystiq has reached out for comment as well, getting a similar, yet decidedly more blunt response: "We don't respond to rumors, but of course not." Blunt response or no, we're sure this isn't the last we'll be hearing about this one. Update 2: We reached out to OnLive again for clarification on whether the denial pertained to both the shutdown and layoff rumors. The response reads thusly: "I have no comment on the news other than to say the OnLive service is not shutting down. I'm sorry I cannot be more specific." Update 3: Martyn Williams from IDG has reported there are employees leaving the OnLive offices with moving boxes.
WSJ shares more details on Apple TV
Earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal leaked information about upcoming changes to the Apple TV. A follow-up report added details that suggest Apple may be working on a set-top television box with cloud-based DVR functions. It's a concept that is very similar to a design described in a recent Apple patent. The Apple TV would let viewers watch their favorite TV show at any time via a DVR that stores the TV shows in the cloud. It may also have a familiar icon-based interface that'll be easier to use than current DVR's, which are often confusing and clunky. Not surprisingly, the Apple TV could serve up content to iPhones and iPads and may also include social media features. Though this all sounds enticing, there's a chance it won't come to fruition. As we pointed out yesterday, the company's biggest hurdle won't be manufacturing the hardware, but getting the cable companies to ink a content deal.
Lenovo reportedly prepping Intel and ARM versions of IdeaPad Yoga transforming tablet
We've known for a while that NVIDIA is working with Lenovo (and ASUS) on a Windows RT Tablet, but ABC News believes that we might already have seen the mystery device in action. Its sources have let slip that alongside the Intel-powered IdeaPad Yoga laptop / tablet hybrid (LapLet? TabTop?), the company will release a Tegra-powered version running Windows RT, combining the same sexy hardware with ARM's power-sipping technology. If true, then we might have a very tough purchasing decision on our hands when the gear arrives -- with the launch date still expected to be on October 26th.
Rumor: Apple to add smaller Dock connector to all iOS devices this fall
iMore and other sources are reporting that the smaller Dock connector design that is expected to debut with the new iPhone this fall will also be included in revisions to other iOS mobile devices. The smaller connectors have been seen on alleged images of the new iPhone and on case designs, but now the word is that new versions of the iPod nano, iPod touch, and 9.7-inch iPad will feature the new connector, as well as the rumored 7-inch iPad mini. As iMore notes, it's been a while since the iPod line has been refreshed, so updating those devices with a new and consistent Dock connector design isn't out of the question. However, the iPad was refreshed in March of this year, meaning that an update to the design to address connector consistency and heat issues would fall outside of the normal release schedule. Apple did refer to a number of "new products in the pipeline" during the Q3 FY 2012 earnings call, so perhaps an update to the existing iPad isn't exactly out of the question. Only time will tell, and as the rumored September 12 announcement date gets closer we'll hear even more speculation.
Rumor Roundup: 'Likely fake, but have a look'
The week was chock full of actual news from the Apple versus Samsung trial, and the amount of inside information that came out in evidence and testimony would've been any rumor site's dream come true if it had only come out a few years ago. But that doesn't mean they can't keep speculating on the as-yet-unreleased and may-never-be-released Apple products of tomorrow. RBC: Apple's iPad mini is coming this fall (BGR) If you've been wringing your hands over whether the iPad mini would ever actually see the light of day, worry no longer. RBC Capital Markets is on the case, and according to them, the iPad mini is, in BGR's words, "Definitely maybe" coming this fall. Man, am I glad RBC Capital Markets finally weighed in. I'm sure that, like me, they're your most trusted source of news on all of Apple's inner workings. Why, I was just saying to myself the other day, "Who the [expletive deleted] is RBC Capital Markets?" That's the kind of reputation money can't buy. Apple in talks to acquire e-commerce social network The Fancy? (9to5 Mac) Taking a break from its usual schtick of sensationalist linkbaiting, Business Insider now says Apple may be in talks to buy The Fancy, which from the sounds of things is basically a unisex version of Pinterest. If this turns out to be true, I'd be curious to see what Apple does with the site. I have a feeling it'd be more of a tech/talent grab for the App Store than anything else, but who knows. New Details On Apple's Next iPhone, iPods, iPad mini, iPad (4th-Gen) + Cases (iLounge) iLounge has a bushel of rumors regarding Apple's forthcoming autumn product launches, so let's just go through them one by one. New iPhone: Yup. New iPhone cases: Probably. Why not? New iPod touch: Yup. New iPod nano: Let's all hope so. iPad mini: Don't hold your breath. Unless you can hold it until November. Or Neverember. Fourth-generation iPad: Not a chance. iLounge likes to come out with long lists like this, and more often than not the majority of things on them never come to pass. Eight-Pin Dock Connector + iOS 6 / Bluetooth 4 Link Details? (Updated) (iLounge) Let's have two more pie-in-the sky rumors to round out the list. New 8-pin Dock connector: Contradicting the majority of rumors thus far which pointed to a 16- or 19-pin connector, iLounge claims the iPhone's new dock will have only 8 pins compared to the current iPhone's 30. What does this mean to you as a consumer? Not much, unless you get in on the "Apple took away 22 of my pins, RRRAAALLLGH" class-action lawsuit that's bound to start in October. iOS 6 + Bluetooth 4 Link: This rumor claims the iPhone (and other devices) will soon communicate with one another over low-power (and presumably always-on) Bluetooth 4. This isn't a new idea; the iPhone 4S was the first Apple device to have Bluetooth 4.0 support, and the iPad (3) and 2012's MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models followed suit. Plenty of people speculated that low-power Bluetooth would be useful for accessories like watches and heart rate monitors, but Apple hasn't showed much interest in actually utilizing this built-in low-power Bluetooth yet. I'm cautiously optimistic it'll throw the switch eventually. New Video of "iphone 5 glass lens" Leaks (ETrade Supply) These guys took one of those "iPhone 5" faceplates that have been making the rounds and went to town on it with a digital micrometer. If you were ever curious about exactly how many fractions of a millimeter thinner the new glass is compared to the one on the iPhone 4S, here's your answer. If this is a fake, ETrade Supply has gone Kubrickian in its attention to detail on it. And frankly, this part has popped up in so many different locations by now that my credit card and I are both convinced the next iPhone will have a 16:9 display ratio after all. Next-gen iPhone to launch in Sept. despite reported component shortage (AppleInsider) Rising star of the Apple rumor scene, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that despite DigiTimes' claims of component shortages (more about that nonsense later), the next iPhone will indeed launch in September. Following my usual rule that anything DigiTimes says about Apple is 95 percent certain not to happen, I'm throwing my money behind Kuo's claim. Sharp to start shipping iPhone screens to Apple this month (Reuters) Sharp's new president supposedly revealed that his company will start shipping screens for the next iPhone this month -- during a press conference. One of two things happened here: either the press misquoted him, or Sharp's going to be looking for a new president soon. Non-functioning next-gen iPhone prototypes/fakes surface in Bangkok? These iPad mini shells are likely fake but have a look 9to5 Mac posted two stories about "parts leaks" that it couldn't even vouch for, one of which it was 99 percent certain was fake. The question naturally arises then: why post them at all? The answer, my friend, is blowing in the pageviews. Wall of shame DigiTimes did what it always tends to do in the weeks leading up to Apple product launches and trotted out its "low yield rates for (x) may affect Apple's next (product)" Mad Libs. This time, it's new touchscreen components that will supposedly limit production of the next iPhone. Unfortunately for this claim, other sources who have managed to get more than one prediction in two years correct claimed the opposite. The "sometimes reliable" site also claims that Apple's going to shift display production away from Samsung and toward Sharp and LG (noting that Sharp's own president is chiming in on the topic now, as mentioned above). Thing is, it's been saying the same thing about various components for well over a year, yet many of the iPad and iPhone's components are still Samsung-manufactured. No word yet on whether DigiTimes' latest citation managed to cost Samsung another $10 billion in market value. You know... the more I think about it, the more I think Apple should buy DigiTimes. The site gets the rumor blogs' undivided attention despite almost never getting anything right -- the perfect tool for product secrecy -- and it's already cost Samsung more money than Apple will get out of the company even if Apple wins its patent lawsuit. It makes perfect sense.
Blurrycam Theatre Presents: Fakers gotta fake a next-gen iPhone dock adapter
Remember the fake "iPhone 5 website leak" from last year? To briefly summarize, Apple was supposed to have screwed up last August, with some unlucky soul in the web commerce group posting the "iPhone 5" section early on the Apple Store, accessible only through the internet equivalent of the Konami Code. If you knew where to look -- and our tipster "Peter" did, having sent us a video and everything -- you could see the "iPhone 5" well in advance of its launch. Very well in advance, as it turns out. Peter's video was moderately clever, but there were some obvious clues that it was fake. With nearly a year of hindsight, it seems laughable now; the iPhone 4S that launched two months later looked nothing like the fake renders. You'd think after being publicly ridiculed last year, "Peter" wouldn't bother to try faking out tech sites again. Even if he did, you'd guess he'd at least have the common sense not to do pretty much exactly the same thing he did last year. Failing that, maybe he'd be wise enough not to send another fake to the same website that vivisected his last one. You might think these things, but you'd be wrong. New iPhone Dock Connector Adapter leaked on the Apple Online Store proclaims some blogger you've never heard of, complete with screenshots and a seemingly convincing YouTube video. Here we find rather convincing "photographs" of a Dock connector adapter, one that's rumored to bring compatibility for old 30-pin iOS device accessories to the new iPhone and its smaller connector. It comes in two varieties: black and silver. The "leaked" page even says which devices it's compatible with, none of which have actually been announced yet. Once again, cleverly done. Unfortunately, our in-house detectives are much cleverer. Although our faker went to great pains to correct his obvious mistakes from last year, Mike Rose immediately spotted a telltale marker of the video's fakery. We've embedded the video at the bottom of this post and invite our sharp-eyed readers to see if they can spot it, too (watch it in 720p). We confronted "Peter" (who first claimed to be a US resident originally from Germany) with his hoax and asked him why he went to so much trouble. Yes everything is fake. I'm in the last year of high school in Switzerland and for our final exams we have to make big documented project. My Topic is Viral Marketing and spreading of Rumors in the Internet. Sooo please don't show that all is fake, because the first day is very important for my analytics. After a few days you can do whatever you want. By the way, I'm also the Guy who did the "iPhone 5 Website Leaked" Video last year. Apologies in advance for your project grade, "Peter," but you spins the wheel, you takes your chances. We're not your lab rats. We're not your teachers, either, but it's a good bet that your school's academic policies don't look kindly on sending hoax emails to media outlets as a means of completing assignments. Speaking of fake iPhones, though this one isn't from "Peter," check out this next Photoshop abomination anyway. Aside from obvious image editing artifacts, the phone's lock screen has little widgets on it we know from personal experience aren't included in iOS 6. The entire phone seems to be made of aluminum, betraying the faker's complete ignorance of the words "Faraday cage." There are no volume buttons or mute switch. The date on the screen is Thursday, 22 December -- a calendar date from 2011. Actually, wait. With that date, it makes perfect sense now. This is the real iPhone 5 Apple actually wanted to release last year, but they were forced to settle for the iPhone 4S because of swamp gas reflecting off of Venus and the reverse vampires. The fake Apple Store/iPhone mini-dock adapter video is below. Sorry if you fail your project, "Peter" -- you'll always have a C-minus in our hearts.
Microsoft downplays Metro design name, might face a lawsuit over all that street lingo
If you've seen most of Microsoft's design language for nearly three years, there's only one word that sums it up: Metro. In spite of that urban look being the underpinning of Windows Phone, Windows 8 and even the Zune HD, Microsoft now claims to ZDNet and others that it's no longer fond of the Metro badge. Instead, it's supposedly phasing out the name as part of a "transition from industry dialog to a broad consumer dialog" while it starts shipping related products -- a funny statement for a company that's been shipping some of those products for quite awhile. Digging a little deeper, there's murmurs that the shift might not be voluntary. Both Ars Technica and The Verge hear from unverified sources that German retailer Metro AG might waving its legal guns and forcing Microsoft to quiet down over a potential (if questionable) trademark dispute. Metro AG itself won't comment other than to say that these are "market rumors," which doesn't exactly calm any frayed nerves over in Redmond. Should there be any truth to the story, we hope Microsoft chooses an equally catchy name for those tiles later on; Windows Street Sign Interface Windows 8-style UI just wouldn't have the same ring to it.
Sharp's president says new iPhone screens will ship this month
Speaking at a press event after announcing its quarterly earnings, Sharp president Takashi Okuda said then company was preparing to ship displays for the new iPhone. Reuters quotes Okuda as saying, "Shipments will start in August." He did not provide any additional details on the phone or the technology behind the display. Apple is rumored to be working on a new, thinner display that'll feature in-cell technology. Rumors also suggest the Cupertino company will unveil the next iPhone at a September 12 event. #next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }
Rumor: Apple holding an iPhone event on September 12
We've been doing our best to keep unfounded rumors to a minimum around here, just because Apple hype can sometimes get a little high. But this is one that's passed the sniff test already, so much so that you might as well try keeping your calendar clear for September 12. That's the rumored date of a possible iPhone event held by Apple, according to a growing list of sources. iMore heard the date first, then AllThingsD's sources also corroborated, saying there will be an event that week. Now Jim Dalrymple at The Loop has given his confirmational "Yep" to the pile of evidence. TUAW's sources give 9/12 a "99%" thumbs-up as well, but we should point out that Apple's fiscal forecasting calls for profit margins to drop based on a product transition in the quarter ending September 30. That means that any new products coming that late in the quarter would have to be high-impact indeed to have a substantial an effect on profit margins. Pre-orders for a new iPhone (or a revised, smaller iPad) starting in mid-September, assuming that both products are more expensive to manufacture than the current incarnations, might move the needle enough to make the margin guidance come out as expected. At any rate, it's enough to circle the date -- in pencil, at least. Don't get out the pen until Apple gives an official announcement, but if September 12 is indeed the day, we'll expect that to show up in the next couple of weeks. [hat tip Engadget] #next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } #next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }
Two sources talk of Apple iPhone event around September 12th, part sales back it up (update: one more clue)
Apple's plans for its next iPhone refresh may be getting very tangible, very quickly. It all started when iMore heard that Apple was preparing to hold an event unveiling the new hardware on September 12th, with a launch the following week on September 21st. Although the relative newcomer to the iPhone release date rumor game is still building its track record, that claim may have just gotten some extra meat: AllThingsD is joining in the chorus and touts its own sources pointing to an event in the same timeframe. While it's almost a month earlier in the year than Apple's iPhone 4S event was in 2011, it's supported by an Apple filing with the SEC showing a sharp uptick in supply purchasing during the spring, which it would need to start production for the fall. All of it is still rumor, of course, but past experience suggests that iOS fans may want to plan any September camping trips for the Apple Store line late in the month, not Labor Day weekend. Update: Jim Dalrymple at The Loop, who's well-known for his accurate one-word confirmations and denials of rumors, just posted his trademark "yep."
Hyperspace Beacon: It's time for free-to-play, SWTOR
I'm a positive person, generally. I'm loyal to my favorite franchises even when George Lucas can't make up his mind about who actually shot first. But I don't like it when my loyalty to a product is taken advantage of when I'm told I will get one thing but am ultimately sold another. That's why I say to EA and BioWare, "Make Star Wars: The Old Republic free-to-play already." When EA was voted the worst company in America by the Consumerist, it was not because the products suck. If a customer has a constant feeling that she is not going to get what she pays for from a specific publisher, then it will start to wear on her. Now whenever someone from EA speaks, we have to ask ourselves whether there is any double meaning to what was said. I believe SWTOR will be free-to-play by the time the first expansion comes out, and not directly because of subscription numbers or rumors. My evidence comes from those who speak for SWTOR and the actions of BioWare's management. I can also guess as to how the studio is going to spin it.
