Analyst: iTV to be “a big seismic shift” in TV biz, gonna sell like hotcakes

by Christian Zibreg on Apr 27, 2012

The first quarter of 2012 saw Apple sell more than 50 million iOS devices, 11.8 million of which were iPads. But even at a high-price of an estimated $2,000, a rumored full-blown television set from Apple is projected to sell faster than the popular iPad, which begins at $499 for the third-gen model, or $399 in the case of the discounted WiFi-only iPad 2.

But what if Apple flexes its muscles with iTV, tapping the $110 billion cash hoard, its frightening buying power and efficient supply chain management to deliver a $1,000 TV set for the masses? If it comes to be, expect nothing if not “a big seismic shift”, one analyst opines… Read More

 

Facebook reportedly still working on a smartphone with HTC

by Cody on Apr 25, 2012

Late last year, some rumors started circulating that Facebook was working on its very own smartphone. Code-named “Buffy,” the handset was to be built by HTC, and feature a forked version of Android with core-level integration of the social network.

Today, DigiTimes is reviving the rumor with a new report regarding the mysterious device. Quoting “industry sources,” the site says that Facebook is set to release the smartphone as early as Q3 of this year, shortly after the company goes public… Read More

 

Rumor: Chinese parts vendor leaks next-generation iPhone home buttons

by Cody on Apr 23, 2012

Oh great, it looks like next-generation iPhone part leaks are starting early this year. Apple Bitch points to TVC-Mall, a Chinese parts vendor, who has listed “iPhone 5″ home buttons for sale on its website.

While the buttons look fairly similar to those found on current iOS devices, the vendor claims that they are in fact noticeably different… Read More

 

TV industry in ‘crisis mode’ should help iTV own premium segment

by Christian Zibreg on Apr 23, 2012

As the likes of Samsung, Panasonic and others cut costs in order to keep their struggling television-making operations in the black, Apple of California is believed to be interested in the high-end of the market, according to one industry executive.

By largely ignoring this lucrative segment of the TV set industry, existing players have already helped Apple make billions when it fills the void with a superbly designed product that doesn’t compromise on quality.

According to this industry source, the iPhone maker apparently is convinced it could rule the premium segment by selling a $2000-$3000 television set with advanced features, for an estimated $10 billion a year opportunity… Read More

 

Apple once again rumored to be releasing a low-end iPhone

by Cody on Apr 23, 2012

Just as analysts and pundits were certain that Apple would release a redesigned iPhone 5 last year, they also believed we’d see an “iPhone Nano.” The smaller, cheaper handset would’ve allowed the Cupertino company to make inroads into the prepaid market.

But as we all know, neither device ever materialized. Instead of an all-new iPhone, we got the familiar-looking iPhone 4S. And instead of an iPhone Nano, we got a cheaper, retooled iPhone 4. But according to a new report, Apple is still considering the latter… Read More

 

Rumor: Apple could use in-cell touch panels for thinner, lighter future iPhones

by Cody on Apr 20, 2012

DigiTimes is out with a new report today claiming that it has learned that Apple is looking to adopt in-cell touch panels for future iPhones — possibly even this year’s model. As usual, the information in the report is attributed to supply chain chatter.

Why is this a big deal? Well, if it’s true, it could make future iPhones significantly thinner. Unlike on-cell panels, which Apple uses in its current handsets, in-cell panels combine touch sensors and color filters into one layer, making the touch panel much thinner… Read More

 

As it turns out, Tim Cook didn’t visit Valve’s headquarters

by Cody on Apr 20, 2012

Last week, a report made its way around the blogosphere claiming that Apple’s CEO Tim Cook was spotted at Valve’s headquarters. This sparked all kinds of speculation regarding the nature of Cook’s visit, and the company’s future plans in the gaming space.

But alas, the story has been proven to be false. Valve head Gabe Newell debunked the rumor himself during an interview on the weekly Seven Day Cooldown podcast yesterday. And apparently, tech sites weren’t the only ones fooled by the report… Read More

 

Rumor: next iPhone likely to drop in October with new Qualcomm LTE chip

by Cody on Apr 19, 2012

In a note to investors this morning, Piper Jaffray’s senior Apple analyst Gene Munster said that Qualcomm is facing supply issues with its new 28-nanometer LTE chips. Munster believes that this cements an October launch date for Apple’s next iPhone.

It’s widely believed that the Cupertino company’s next handset will feature the above-mentioned Qualcomm MDM9615 LTE chipset, as it allows for both voice and data connections over LTE networks. It’s also smaller and much more power-efficient… Read More

 

Rumor: next iPhone will be machined from Liquidmetal and launch at WWDC

by Christian Zibreg on Apr 18, 2012

A new report out of South Korea alleges that Apple will be launching a sixth-generation iPhone at its annual developers conference this summer, likely taking place between June 11-15.

The phone is said to be a complete overhaul of the existing iPhone, with the biggest design feature being the use of the patented Liquidmetal amorphous alloy, presumably for its shell.

As you know, Apple obtained exclusive worldwide rights to use this zirconium-based alloy in consumer electronics products from Liquidmetal Technologies’  in August of 2010.

They already tested the substance with the SIM ejector tool that shipped with the iPhone 3G, but thus far the company did not switch its aluminum-based gadgets to Liquidmetal… Read More

 

What if Apple isn’t building a TV set?

by Cody on Apr 18, 2012

Fortune ran an interesting article last night entitled “Tell me again. Why we think Apple will make a TV set?” The piece outlines the sketchy details surrounding one of the most anticipated, unannounced consumer products in recent memory: the Apple TV set.

Rumors that Apple has been working on a television have been bouncing around for years now. Started by analysts and fueled by “supply chain checks,” the speculation regarding an Apple TV has reached epic proportions. But has it all been for nothing? Read More

 
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