Following up on a string of recent reporting which revives the iPad mini rumor, the usually accurate Japanese blog Macotakara claimed that the device will be produced in Foxconn's new manufacturing facilities in Brazil. Manufacturing is apparently set to ramp up in September, just in time for mass availability around the holiday shopping season, as indicated in other reports...
It may seem like nothing ever comes from all of these ongoing patent lawsuits, but that's not always the case. Just ask HTC, who saw shipments of its flagship handset held up at U.S. Customs back in May due to an injunction order.
The delay only lasted a few weeks, but it left HTC unable to get its One X and other handsets into the hands of customers on launch weekend. And the company cites it as one of the main reasons why its profits plunged last quarter...
There have been some significant developments in the Samsung v. Apple patent dispute case this afternoon. The last we heard, Apple had won U.S. injunctions on both the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, and the Galaxy Nexus, and motions to stay those orders had been denied.
Samsung's last hope was for the Washington D.C.-based Court of Appeals to get involved, as it has jurisdiction over all IP proceedings. And it looks like it has made its decision on both cases this afternoon, ruling to uphold one ban, and suspend the other...
Aside from making hit smartphones and tablets, Apple has produced a long line of iOS accessories. There's the Smart Cover, the iPad Keyboard Dock, the iPod Hi-Fi Stereo, oh and remember Apple's Bluetooth headset?
While the device didn't garner much consumer attention, it appears that Apple hasn't given up on the headset market. According to a new patent application, the company has another one in the works...
I just read this argument how anyone that thinks Apple might do an iPad mini because of the Kindle Fire or Nexus 7 should be banned from writing about Apple. Seriously? I'd wager it's the other way round. Apple absolutely cannot afford to sit on the sidelines while Amazon and Google take over its prospective customers on the low-end and lock them into their ecosystems.
Yes, Apple knows all too well that Google's $199 Nexus 7 is a game-changer. Tim Cook understands this thing is gonna be big and you can bet he'll do something about it. Why else do you think Apple has started alerting the press that it's been working on a seven-inch competitor...
Rumors that Apple is working on a wireless charging solution for its iOS devices have been bouncing around for years. We've even seen evidence of this in the company's patent filings.
But if you can't wait for Apple to implement the feature, you could always do it yourself. Tanveer Islam did it with his iPhone 4S, using a Powermat and a little know-how...
Curved cover glass could be the next big thing for portable devices. Apple reportedly invested in glass-cutting machines last year, fueling rumors that the iPhone 5 may feature a curved display akin to Nokia's Lumia smartphones. The idea gained credence when Nick Bilton wrote in a New York Times article last December that Cupertino was working on “a curved-glass iPod that would wrap around the wrist”.
We're not so sure Apple would attach the iPod or iPhone brand to such an unusual gizmo, but if it resembles this exquisite concept, count us very excited...
Apple's Find My iPhone service is rather convenient for finding a lost device, but it falls short in theft prevention. See, thieves have figured out by now they simply need to shut down a stolen device to stop Find My iPhone.
Cabel Sasser thought of an interesting solution - a "Shutdown Requires PIN" feature in iOS Settings - and carrier AT&T's also been tackling this problem for some time.
It looks like the nation's leading carrier, which sold 17.5 million iPhones last year, has indeed come up with an effective remedy that might keep iPhone thieves on the grid longer: a block list of sorts on the network end...
A pair of reports from Asia claim that Apple is looking to tweak the new iPad with a re-worked LED backlight and a revised battery. The new SKU is reportedly meant to address the overheating woes which blew up shortly following the launch, due to criticism by Consumer Reports...
Apple released its third-generation iPad in March of this year, and by most accounts it's been wildly successful. The company sold nearly 12 million tablets last quarter. And thanks to its agressive international push, it's expected to top that this time around.
There has been, however, one notable country left off the new iPad's passport: China. Complicated government approval processes and a nasty trademark battle with Proview have kept the popular tablet out of Apple's second largest consumer market.
But it looks like the wait is almost over...
Over the last 48 hours, the App Store has been suffering from a glitch that has been causing some newly-updated apps to crash upon opening. The bug has been a nightmare for developers, who have been taking a lot of heat over the issue.
Yesterday, Apple acknowledged the problem, and confirmed that it had a dedicated team working to resolve it. And it didn't take long, last night the company started sending out official statements that the updating glitch has been repaired...
Over the past few years, the smartphone race has essentially come down to just two manufacturers: Apple and Samsung. HTC is struggling, as is Nokia, and RIM is all but done.
But that doesn't seem to be stopping Amazon from entering the market. Another report is out this evening claiming that the retail giant is cooking up its very own smartphone...