Year: 2012

Video depicts 0.1mm thinner, more scratch resistance iPhone 5 front panel

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Two months ago a video made rounds comparing side-by-side the current iPhone 4S front panel to a 4.07-inch panel allegedly belonging to a sixth-generation iPhone. Another video showing off a partially assembled device scrapped together from the allegedly leaked parts also piqued our interest.

And now, a new clip hits the Interwebs comparing the front panel of the current iPhone 4S and the rumored iPhone 5. Some of the stuff that we gleaned from the seven-minute clip include a centered FaceTime camera and a taller display with a 16:9 aspect ratio, which aligns nicely with the previously leaked schematics. More findings right below...

Foxconn rethinking its Sharp investment amid the sunset of Japan’s TV biz

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 3, 2012

Japanese giants once used to rule the consumer electronics landscape but no more. Even the TV set making biz, once the pinnacle of the "made in Japan" industry, has been declining rapidly due to strong competitive pressure from South Korea, the home to Samsung, the world's largest TV maker.

Foxconn, an assembly company, in March announced intentions to purchase an eleven percent stake in Sharp, a manufacturer. Pundits and industry execs saw the move as laying the groundwork for a mass-scale production of a rumored Apple television set as Foxconn also agreed to buy a 46.48 percent stake in Sharp's cutting-edge (though underutilized) LCD plant in Sakai in western Japan, a big loss maker for the company.

Even though Foxconn has helped Sharp weather some of the storm ahead, the company needs more help. Banks, however, are unwilling to issue new loans and Foxconn just decided to renegotiate the terms of its purchase of Sharp's shares. The best bit: Foxconn has yet to produce the money for that deal...

Samsung to launch new Galaxy Note phablet two weeks before iPhone 5

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 3, 2012

From the courtroom to the marketplace, Samsung is adamant to counter Apple's strides and retain its leadership with new device announcements. Samsung's strategy of releasing multiple handset and tablet models has paid off. The company's tablet tablet shipments during the second quarter of this year rose 117.6 percent. The flagship Galaxy S III handset that launched in early-May has become the chief contender to the iPhone and now the company is set to refresh its fabled phablet, the Galaxy Note, which despite naysayers produced some nice numbers...

AT&T to start rolling out new iPad-based POS systems in stores

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 4, 2018

For the past decade, Apple has been setting the bar for retail chains. Its well-placed, well-designed stores have been the envy of all other outlets, with their iOS device-toting salesmen and shopper-friendly layouts.

Several retailers are starting to catch on, though, and have begun remodeling their stores in Apple's image. And it looks like AT&T is next. It seems the carrier is going to start replacing its POS computers with iPads...

First Real Racing 3 trailer surfaces with amazing graphics

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 6, 2016

Great news for all of you iOS gamers out there, Firemonkeys has just taken the lid off of Real Racing 3. The title is one of the most popular racing franchises, if not franchises in general, in the App Store.

This will be the first game out of the new mobile development studio, which is made up of Firemint and Iron Monkey staff — two independent studios that were recently acquired by Electronic Arts...

New iPad mini case, iPhone 5 cases and more

Cody Lee ∙ August 3, 2012

Apple is expected to unveil a number of new products this fall, including a revamped iPod touch, with a 4-inch display, and an all-new iPod nano. But the two most anticipated announcements are for the new iPhone (obviously), and the rumored iPad mini.

Despite Apple's attempts at secrecy, a number of major news outlets have confirmed that the company will be unveiling a refreshed smartphone, and a smaller tablet, at its September 12 media event. And we even (think we) have a good idea of what they look like...

ayecon for iPad now available on Cydia

Jeff Benjamin ∙ August 2, 2012

[tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QOjCSimsRc[/tube]

ayecon — the retina compatible theme for the iPhone — has now made its way to the iPad in full Retina display glory.

As we covered in our exclusive hands on video preview of the theme, it has shaped up to be one of the, if not the most impressive theme currently available for the iPad.

If you're rocking a new iPad that's jailbroken, then head over to Cydia's BigBoss repo where you can download it for $2.99.

Be sure to let us know what you think about it in the comments below.

iPhone 5,2 prototype supposedly spotted in server logs

Cody Lee ∙ August 2, 2012

We've heard the reports from "insider sources," and we've seen the leaked parts. But just in case you had any doubts that Apple was on the verge of releasing a new iPhone, check this out.

A handset, believed to be one of Apple's next smartphones, has been spotted pinging a developer's server logs. Codenamed iPhone 5,2, this could be a sign that a release is imminent...

The Nexus 7 “Smart Cover” in action — how should Apple respond?

Jeff Benjamin ∙ August 2, 2012

Today I received my Nexus 7 "Smart Cover". Okay, it's really just a bulky case, but it closely mimics the function of Apple's innovative means of screen protection. I ordered it simply to compare it to Apple's original version of the Smart Cover.

As you have probably heard, the Nexus 7 contains an unadvertised feature — magnets on the front right-side of the device, which very much imitate the iPad's sleep/wake functionality.

Should Apple be upset with this unadvertised feature?

Possible next-gen iPhone prototypes surface in Bangkok

Cody Lee ∙ August 2, 2012

Apple's iPhone media event isn't expected to happen for another 6 weeks, but the tech world is fairly confident in what the handset is going to look like. Since May of this year, we've seen several parts surface from different sources that all point to the same two-tone design.

And more evidence of the theory has surfaced today. Some new pictures are starting to make their way around the web of what some folks believe to be a finalized prototype for the next iPhone...

Saurik talks Cydia revenue model, Cydia for Mac, and more

Cody Lee ∙ August 2, 2012

Have you ever wondered how much money Saurik makes for running Cydia? Or whatever happened to Cydia for Mac? Good. We've just come across the answers to these questions, and more.

In a response to a recent forum tantrum, Saurik decided to address a number of misconceptions in the jailbreak community regarding him and his popular underground app store...

Photos of Apple’s NC campus show solar farm and new tactical data center

Cody Lee ∙ August 2, 2012

The sneaky folks over at Wired just flew a 1949 Piper PA-11 (Cub Special) aircraft over Apple's Maiden, North Carolina campus to see what the old Cupertino company was up to. And apparently, it's building stuff.

The publication's "iSpy Plane" managed to grab photos of a number of new structures on the campus, including Apple's 100-acre solar farm, and its mysterious "tactical data center" we learned about last month...