Apple

Partially assembled next-gen iPhone appears on video

The tech world was set on fire yesterday with images of what appeared to be a nearly-assembled next-generation iPhone. While we've seen similar parts, separately, over the past few months, put together they seemed to carry a lot more weight.

But if you're still having a hard time with the proposed two-tone design, or feel like it doesn't differ enough from its predecessor, you may want to check out this video. It shows the claimed partially assembled next-gen iPhone in all of its glory...

Apple to unveil new iPhone September 12, launch on September 21

Thanks to leaked components and industry sources, it feels like we know just about everything there is to know about Apple's new smartphone. We [think we] know what it looks like, and what new features it will have. But we haven't heard much about its release date, until now.

A new report is out this evening claiming that Apple is planning to unveil the sixth-generation iPhone at a "special event" on Wednesday, September 12, and it's expected to release the handset the following week. But that's not all the Cupertino company has in store...

Poll: do you like the two-tone iPhone 5 design?

A surprising amount of tidbits that have come out of the rumor-mill point to a two-tone design for a sixth-generation iPhone, be it home buttons, front and back plates, leaked schematics and engineering samples or even fan artwork.

The case for a two-tone iPhone has become much stronger earlier today when a repair shop put together all those parts floating around Asia, seemingly depicting what a fully-assembled iPhone 5 could look like. The thing ticks all the right boxes, like a relocated headphone jack on the bottom, a smaller 19-pin dock connector and a taller four-inch display (both confirmed by credible media outlets).

No matter from which angle you look at it, the assembly does look legit. It's plausible design-wise with its high-quality milled aluminum feel, thinner appearance and a slightly beveled shiny edge. As always, some people will love the new look and others will loathe it simply because it doesn't look new enough. Which side of the fence you're on?

Several new iPhone and iPad prototype designs revealed

The highly-anticpiated patent trial between Apple and Samsung is set to kick off tomorrow in a US District court in northern California. And even if you're not interested in all of the patent-talk, there are still several reasons to look forward to the litigation.

The court-ordered revelation of early iPhone and iPad prototype designs, for example, is particularly exciting. Apple has kept information regarding the development of its two most popular products extremely close to the vest over the past ten years. And this trial will force the company to finally reveal at least some of those secrets...

Purported photos of assembled next-gen iPhone surface

We've seen several leaked components over the past few months that are believed to belong to the Apple's next smartphone. We've seen home buttons, front plates, back plates, and more.

This morning, images surfaced of all of these parts put together, depicting what appears to be a fully-assembled, next-generation iPhone. Keep reading for more details and photos...

Apple files another patent for wearable computing device

As we've said before, wearable computing is coming. We know it's on Google's mind — last month the company showed off its Project Glass eyewear. And we've seen evidence that Apple's interested as well.

The Cupertino company filed for another wearable computing patent this week. The application covers an invention that, as you can see in the above image, has to do with a head-mounted digital display...

Apple’s AuthenTec acquisition already under investigation

It hasn't been 24 hours since the news broke that Apple acquired AuthenTec, and there's already talk of foul play. It seems that two law firms are investigating the acquisition to see if AuthenTec's Board intentionally undervalued the company to reach a deal with Apple.

Although the investigation appears to only involve AuthenTec at the moment, a resulting lawsuit could have a major impact on, or even block, Apple's latest tech purchase...

NYT: Apple talking to Twitter about investing hundreds of millions of dollars

Apple has apparently been in talks with Twitter officials in recent months about making a possible investment in the micro-blogging platform, reports The New York Times. Described as "a strategic investment", it could value Twitter at more than ten billions.

Apple's attempts at social were limited thus far. Its social thing for music, Ping, will likely be discontinued with the next major iTunes update. That promised Facebook integration in Ping had been pulled last minute was blamed on “onerous terms that we could not agree to”, as Jobs put it. Nonetheless, Apple has opted to partner with both Twitter and Facebook to support their services throughout iOS and OS X.

UPDATE: The Wall Street Journal says Apple talked to Twitter about this a year ago, claiming no immediate acquisition is in the cards.

Go past the break for the latest...

Apple airs new adverts about Geniuses

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Apple has begun airing interesting new commercials, possibly marking a subtle change in advertising direction. The adverts debuted during the Olympic Games opening ceremonies tonight. Rather than focus on the newly released Mountain Lion, the nine-month-old iPhone 4S or Siri (which is increasingly working against Apple these days), these new clips depicts Apple Store Geniuses solving problems for customers.

The first advert that can be seen above is aptly named Mayday and depicts a Genius on board an airplane helping a customer solve an issue before landing. Two more commercials are included right below for your viewing pleasure...

Annual iPhone cycle helped Samsung destroy Apple in Q2 smartphone sales

It appears Samsung is creeping up on Apple slowly but surely. Not content with overtaking Apple and Nokia as the world's largest smartphone and cell phone vendor, respectively, Samsung during the June quarter managed to widen its lead by selling twice as much smartphones as Apple.

Driven by the surprisingly strong start of its latest flagship handset, the Galaxy S III, Samsung has managed to increase its worldwide smartphone share while Apple slid. Man, Apple really needs to refresh the iPhone twice a year because this annual update cycle is becoming the company's Achilles' heel...

Apple and Google duking it out over Kodak patents

Kodak filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January and Apple's been attempting to transfer its patent dispute with the imaging company out of bankruptcy court ever since, but to no avail. As Kodak now looks to sell off a trove of 1,100 patents related to digital cameras, smartphones and tablets, bidders are lining up, including the usual suspects, technology giants Apple and Google...

Open-source components of Sparrow now available for download

Sparrow was recently snapped up by Google and people continue to have mixed feelings about this sell-out no one saw coming. The Sparrow team made it clear in a blog post they would cease work on new features (apart from minor updates) as Google has tasked its newly acquired team with improving Gmail mobile apps.

Today, the Sparrow team announced plans to open-source parts of the Sparrow apps for personal use only. If you're good at reverse engineering, why not take a closer look at the Sparrow code?