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Twimal the Twitter reader reads your tweets, looks adorable while doing so (video)
If you fancy using Twitter as much as we do, you'll probably scream like a pre-teen when you lay your eyeballs on what toy maker Takara Tomy has conjured up in Japan. Dubbed Twimal, this loveable Pokemon-esque desk companion plugs into your Windows machine via USB and has one reason for its existence -- to read your tweets. Available in blue or white (male or female voice, respectively), these little bots are able to read all sorts of tweets (replies, lists, user-specific, etc.), in what appears to be Japanese only. If you're interested in getting your 140-character messages read in the cutest way possible, look for these toys on digital shelves in Japan on March 31 for ¥2,480 (around 30 bucks). And do yourself a favor; watch the video after the break. You'll thank us later.
Phil Schiller says white iPhone coming this spring
Increasingly it seems that when you have a question about an Apple product, you should bypass the support forums and go directly to Apple's top brass. When asked about the white iPhone 4 on Twitter, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, Phil Schiller, responded with an enthusiastic "The white iPhone will be available this spring (and it is a beauty!)." This report confirms earlier rumors that point to an imminent launch of the elusive white handset. Renewed interest in the white iPhone 4 most likely stems from the release of the white iPad 2. Customers have been waiting for the white handset since June 2010 when the latest generation Apple smartphone was announced at WWDC by Steve Jobs. Much to the chagrin of customers, Apple has twice announced the handset was delayed due to an unidentified production issue. Rumored reports hinted the problem arose from paint quality issues that were recently fixed. Considering the source of this latest tidbit of information, it is a fairly safe bet we will see the white iPhone 4 soon. Anyone excited? [Via Engadget]
Apple's Phil Schiller confirms: white iPhone to be available 'this spring'
Whoa, Nelly. Ready for another round? The elusive white iPhone -- spotted only in the hands of Woz and occasionally in those of our own Richard Lai -- may ship after all. After hearing from Apple that it was being delayed twice in 2010, we've heard an extended radio silence ever since. Sure, we've seen hints here and there from third parties that this here unicorn was still making its way through the production line, but there's nothing quite like a direct tweet from Cupertino's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing to really rekindle some interest. In response to a question on how to obtain a white iPhone, Philip Schiller fired back: "The white iPhone will be available this spring (and it is a beauty!)." That's about as clear-cut as it gets for now, but we've still got a few inquiries we'd love answered. Is he talking about the iPhone 4, or the next one in the pipeline? And does he have any intention of building us up, only to let us down (let us down) once more? We shall see, won't we? [Thanks, Stefan]
The iPad 2
Apple has just made its second-generation iPad official! It features a 1GHz dual-core A5 chip and, finally, cameras, both on the front and rear. The new CPU is said to be up to twice as fast, with graphics performance up to nine times better than on the original iPad, while power requirements have been kept the same. Battery life is, consequently, unaltered, with Apple promising 10 hours. Pricing, too, has been left unchanged, starting at $499 for a 16GB WiFi-only iPad 2 and stretching up to $829 for a WiFi + 3G SKU with 64GB of storage. The new tablet will come with an HDMI output capable of 1080p -- which will set you back $39 for the requisite dongle, called an Apple Digital AV Adapter -- but there will sadly be no rumblings of Thunderbolt connectivity here. What you will get is an enlarged speaker grille on the back, as expected, and the same 1024 x 768 resolution and IPS LCD screen technology as on the original iPad.Update: We've gotten our first hands-on with the iPad 2 and, boy oh boy, it's fast!720p video recording at 30fps will be on tap from the rear-facing camera, which can also do a 5x digital zoom if you're into that kind of thing, whereas the front-facing imager will record at a more modest VGA resolution, also at 30fps.There's a new cover for the device, which is best defined by Steve Jobs himself: "We designed the case right alongside the product. It's not a case -- it's a cover." Basically, it's a magnetic flap that protects the front and automatically wakes and puts the device to sleep according to whether it's open or closed. Guess we know what that proximity sensor was about now. These Smart Covers will cost $39 in plastic or $69 if you opt for leather.The iPad 2 is 33 percent thinner than its predecessor, at a mind-melting 8.8mm, and a little lighter at just over 600g, while paintjob options have been expanded: you'll get a choice between white and black. It'll be available on both AT&T and Verizon, and all variants start shipping on March 11th. Apple Retail Stores will start sales at the unusual hour of 5PM, which will probably make online pre-orders the fastest way to get yours.%Gallery-118170%In terms of new software, Apple's launching iOS 4.3 alongside the new iPad and bringing with it much improved Safari performance as well as FaceTime, Photo Booth, iMovie and GarageBand (the latter two costing $4.99 a piece) apps specifically for the newly camera-enriched iPad. Personal Hotspot capabilities are also arriving in the latest version of the OS, but they'll be exclusive to the iPhone 4, so you won't be able to share your 3G iPad's connection. The minimum compatible version of iTunes for the new iPad 2 will be the freshly released 10.2.%Gallery-118177%You'll find Apple's official PR and some slick promo videos below, or you can keep your mouse clicking and check out our first hands-on with the iPad 2.
Forget the white iPhone 4, white iPhone 5 rumors begin!
It's the perfect rumor: the officially delayed and frequently tattled white iPhone 4 has reemerged as the white iPhone 5 riding a horned stallion through virgin rumor fields. According to the Economic Daily News, the previously unheard of white iPhone 5 will feature a touch panel supplied exclusively by Wintek. If true, then the white iPhone 4, officially scheduled for a spring 2011 launch, should be available just prior to the launch of the next generation white iPhone 5, anticipated for a summer launch in keeping with Apple's typical launch cycle. Not exactly ideal, but hey, it's only the first of many related rumors to come. P.S. Here's a link to an Apple-free Engadget in anticipation of your needs.
Sony Ericsson breaks out white Xperia Play, makes it an O2 exclusive in the UK
We'll confess, we did see Sony Ericsson execs flashing white Xperia Play handsets during the company's MWC 2011 press event, but curiously enough none of those made their way to the demo areas. Now we've finally got ourselves some fully fleshed out press shots, along with the news that O2 will be the sole carrier for this alabaster gaming smartphone in the UK. Other markets have yet to announce availability of the white Xperia Play, but you'll know more just as soon as we do. Skip past the break to see how the front end looks. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
White Nexus S confirmed to be 'coming soon' to Vodafone
We heard last month when we got our first glimpse of a white Nexus S that it might be headed to Vodafone, and that's now finally been confirmed by Vodafone itself. Details are still pretty light beyond that, but Vodafone says that the phone is "coming soon," and that it will be the only carrier to offer the phone in white -- in the UK, at least. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
White iPhone 4 starts to get Best Buy, The Source shelf space
This shelf tag was apparently spotted this weekend at a Best Buy in Houston, and it speaks for itself: white iPhone 4, AT&T, $599.99 off contract (the same price as the black). Of course, we all know this thing is coming within the next few weeks at this point -- there's just too much evidence pointing in that direction -- but the fact that we've got big box retailers printing and placing tags for it now suggests that it's coming sooner rather than later. Oh, and in case you're wondering, that QR code link is dead at the moment -- we've linked it below in case you want to give it a shot. Update: Looks like The Source (Canada's version of Radio Shack) is also making room. See for yourself after the break. Thanks, Anonymous! [Thanks, Joel P.]
Why the camera isn't the culprit for the white iPhone 4's delay (update: Woz responds)
Unless you've been away from the Internet over the last few days, you would've no doubt heard about Woz's special appearance at the Engadget Show on Sunday. Unsurprisingly, a few websites ran with some quotes that they pulled from our interview -- specifically, the highlight was Woz "confirming" that the white iPhone 4 was indeed delayed due to camera issues. Well, I don't think this is the case at all. In fact, I'm sure there are plenty of other good reasons for why Apple's been delaying the much anticipated flavor of its flagship smartphone, but the camera just isn't one of them. Head right past the break and all will be explained. Update: Our man Woz has just responded in the comments: I said plenty to make it clear that I know nothing of Apple's reasons for rejecting anything ever. I told how when I got my white iPhone 4 assembled I tested the flash photos and they did indeed have problems. I spoke of testing flash photos versus non-flash ones and comparing flash photos between my white and black iPhones. I don't recall saying that it was a 'reason' Apple rejected the parts although I had read that. For the last part, we were referring to 0:55 in the interview video after the break, but now that Woz has spoken, it could've been a joke at the time that got misinterpreted by some websites. They tend to do that with Woz. Read on!
White iPhone 4 rumored as Apple Store goes down globally (update: nope)
It was bound to happen sometime, and today is as good as any other post-holiday day to launch the mythical white iPhone 4. While normally we'd consider a Wednesday night shuttering of the global Apple store to be maintenance-related, a tweet identifying a pair of supposed white iPhone part numbers -- MC604X/A (16GB) and MC606X/A (32GB) -- has surfaced, attributed to an established last-minute Apple insider known only as "Mr. X" in various tech forums. Mind you, "spring " was the last official timeframe for a white iPhone release. But please, we beg you... don't say that it's early if it does appear when the Apple Store returns to business later today -- we don't want anyone to get hurt in the comments. Update: Apple.com has undergone a subtle redesign, with the navigation bar up top taking on a shinier new look, though the Store remains down. A little bit of web-based multitasking, eh Apple? Update 2: Store is back and we're not seeing anything new. You?
Nexus S emerges in white attire, but it only covers its rear
Staying true to its Galaxy S forefather, the Nexus S has shown up with a new white shell, which, just as with the Galaxy S, only extends to its rear portions, leaving the front end a familiar shade of noir. Just what's keeping manufacturers from blanching their phones' visage, we don't know, but at least it's looking like there'll be some variation in the Nexus S' palette. We did notice a "Silver Black" Nexus S sprouting up in European retailers' listings a couple of weeks ago, which this could well be -- it all depends on how loosely these companies define the word "silver." There's no knowledge on when or where this chromatically altered S will be on sale, but you'll know more as soon as we do. Update: First picture from the wilderness of the white back is now embedded after the break. The Next Web suggests Vodafone may be the European carrier for this particular version of the handset.
White iPhone 4 in AT&T's account management system now, too
Hot on the heels of cameos in various Vodafone Germany and Best Buy systems, the mythical white iPhone 4 is showing up somewhere else -- and for many of you, this one hits particularly close to home. Turns out any AT&T subscriber can now log in to their account and see both 16GB and 32GB versions of the phone listed in the model picker, which could definitely suggest that these guys are getting ready to finally make them available along with everyone else. Then again, we've also heard that the white iPhone 4 never even left some of AT&T's inventory systems in the first place, so this might mean very little -- but for now, we're going with the "where there's smoke, there's fire" angle. Verizon, your turn.
LG Optimus 2X goes on sale in Korea, teases white version for February
No big surprises here, unless you count that snowy white number up above. Yep, LG's not only stolen a march on Motorola in introducing the world's first dual-core smartphone, it's also about to beat Apple to the white handset punch as well. The 1080p-recording, Tegra 2-wielding Optimus 2X is now available in its home market of South Korea and, if LG stays true to its roadmap, should be filtering through into Europe before this month is out. We don't know if its white variant will ever escape the clutches of Korea (and we sure hope it does), but it should be making its bodacious debut over there in February.
White iPhone 4 purportedly turns up in Best Buy's inventory system, launching February 27th?
It's been a long time coming, but it's starting to look like things just might be starting to maybe, possibly line up for the white iPhone 4. We saw some inventory shots from Vodafone Germany ourselves yesterday, and now Mac Rumors has turned up a shot of it own that appears to show both 16GB and 32GB versions of the phone in Best Buy's inventory system in the US. What's more, these listings also show a specific in-stock date of February 27th and, for what it's worth, the model numbers match those that first turned up in Best Buy's system when it was originally taking pre-orders for the difficult-to-manufacture phone. Of course, we still won't be fully satisfied until we start seeing some actual boxes with white iPhones in them, but here's hoping we won't have to wait too much longer for that to happen -- Apple still hasn't pushed back that "spring 2011" date, after all. [Thanks, Micah ]
White iPhone 4 shows up in Vodafone Germany's inventory system
Could it be that Apple and Foxconn engineers have finally found a way to harness and contain the raw, blinding power of the color white? Last we'd heard, the rarest member of the iPhone 4 clan was tracking for a spring '11 launch -- and that'd line up pretty nicely with shots we've received from a trusted source today showing new entries in Vodafone Germany's inventory system for weiß (white) iPhone 4s in both 16 and 32GB flavors. Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean Vodafone has any idea when these phones are showing up on their doorstep -- maybe they're just preparing (and hoping) that it materializes before too long -- but for what it's worth, the source says to expect a launch "soon." If you've got a few hundred euro lying around, we suppose it'll be a good way to bide your time while you wait for an iPhone 5 launch in a few months, right? %Gallery-114547%
Dell Streak slips to $100 on contract at Best Buy
Discounts are raining down from the heavens these days as retailers try to offload old stock and do a bit of tidying up before rolling in the fresh batch of 2011 smartphones. Best Buy is keeping with this trend by treating its customers to a nice big saving on the AT&T-attached Dell Streak, offering it up for a mere $100 in upfront costs. The typical two-year commitment will be required from you, but that might just be worth it for this 5-inch Android slate, particularly if you load it up with the latest firmware. Pricing is the same for both the black and white versions, so if you're keen to swap a small bulge in your wallet for a large protruding tabletphone in your pocket, you know where to look. [Thanks, Jeremy C.]
Nikon concept cameras surface, spark rumor mill
Is the future of photography painted in Kubrick white? It is if you believe Nikon and Canon. We've seen the latter's concept in much more detail, and now a handful of pics from the Nikon Sapporo Showroom have surfaced, showcasing at least one similarly unpigmented design. The other two models, snapped and found via burner-images, look like more run-of-the-mill DSLRs, but the one that's causing a stir online is the all-white model that originated from DCHome forums. The original poster chimes in to say it might be the EVIL camera, but we're not exactly convinced. For starters, the body doesn't look much smaller or different than the rest of its lineup -- not exactly what we'd expect for a "new market" product, as the company reportedly wants its mirrorless shooter to be. Additionally, as noted by a number of Nikon Rumors commenters, that apparently 18-55mm lens implies it's rocking an APS-C sensor. Of course, if we saw the other side, we could see whether or not it had a viewfinder, which does narrow down the possibilities. So in conclusion, we still don't know what it is, or if we ever will with any certainty, but we're making an educated guess as to what it isn't. Got that? Good.
Dell Streak busts out a white back for Best Buy exclusive
Seems like Best Buy has developed something of a taste for snow-white exclusives, as it's now become the first retailer to offer up Dell's 5-inch Streak tabletphone with an alabaster case. We're hearing the only way to grab the new palette option is to go down to your nearest Best Buy store, though online reservation and payment is also available. Not every store has them just yet, so checking ahead of time might also be advisable. Skip past the break to see the new Streak's front end -- it actually retains a lot of the black bezel of its noir family mate.
White HTC EVO 4G leaves the Best Buy nest, migrates to Sprint stores
Once a Best Buy exclusive, the white version of HTC's still-badass EVO 4G is finally making its way into actual Sprint retail locations, the carrier's website, and other third party stores for the same $199 on contract after $100 mail-in rebate as usual. Gives us a good opportunity to levy the same complaint we'd levied before -- that the front of the phone should be white, not just the back -- but hey, at least passers-by will know you're stylin' when you've got it held to your face.
Motorola Droid 2 Global now available at Verizon for $199
Never mind that November 11 rumor, the Droid 2 Global is available to buy from Verizon right now. The dual-mode CDMA/GSM handset from Moto -- equipped with a 1.2GHz processor, don't forget -- is ready to be yours today for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and subject to the usual two-year contractual commitment. If you still need convincing, this new SKU also comes in a sparkling white option... can you really resist a white globetrotting Droid? See more of it after the break. [Thanks, Anthony]
