Rumors

Report: TSMC has a “good chance” of winning Apple’s chip biz in 2014

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 27, 2017

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has long been rumored to become an alternative supplier for Apple-designed processors powering iOS devices. However, yield issues and manufacturing difficulties with the foundry's 20-nanometer process pushed back those plans.

Meanwhile, Samsung continues to make the Ax-series of processors for the latest iPhone and iPad. Per chatter from Asian supply chain, TSMC is working hard to ramp up 20-nanometer production “ahead of schedule”, apparently in a bid to win over Apple’s chip business from Samsung by 2014...

Rumor: familiar-looking ‘iPhone 5’ SIM tray surfaces

Cody Lee ∙ May 2, 2012

For the second time in the last two weeks, a parts vendor has leaked a purported 'iPhone 5' component. Last Tuesday we saw some Home buttons surface that reportedly belonged to Apple's next-generation handset, and now we've come across a SIM card tray.

As noted by MacRumors, SW-BOX.com has posted some information on a claimed 'iPhone 5' SIM card tray that it's apparently just obtained from one of its parts suppliers. And, as the site points out, it looks nearly identical to its iPhone 4/4S counterpart...

Analyst believes Apple will soon become a mobile operator

Cody Lee ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

9to5Mac points to an interesting presentation given at the recent Barcelona Informa MVNO Industry Summit by Whitey Bluestein. The wireless industry analyst believes that Apple is about to launch its own wireless service courtesy of MVNO.

This isn't the first time we've heard rumors regarding the iPhone-makers becoming a Mobile Virtual Network Operator, but Bluestein believes this is set to happen in the "near future." And he makes a pretty convincing argument too...

Rumor: Apple and EPIX in movie streaming deal that includes the mythical iTV

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 27, 2012

Apple is (again) rumored to be negotiating content deals with Hollywood studios that would give the company necessary rights to stream premium Hollywood entertainment via the iCloud to your living room.

Two people with knowledge of the negotiations apparently told Reuters that the EPIX movie streaming deal could include “a long-anticipated” television set from Apple.

However, industry sources indicated that any Apple-EPIX streaming deal cannot be realized before end of September 2012, when EPIX's prior streaming arrangement with Netflix is set to expire...

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

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 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...

Facebook reportedly still working on a smartphone with HTC

Cody Lee ∙ April 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...

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

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

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...

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

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 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...

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

Cody Lee ∙ April 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...

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

Cody Lee ∙ April 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...

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

Cody Lee ∙ April 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...

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

Cody Lee ∙ April 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...