Rumors

Tough negotiations could see iRadio miss WWDC launch

It feels like the summer of 2011 all over again. Both Apple and Google were rumored to be working on a music service, and Google has beaten Apple to the punch by announcing theirs well in advance. Back then it was cloud storage. This time it's streaming.

Earlier this week, Google unveiled its new 'All Access' streaming music service. And according to a new report, unless Apple can reach a deal with the remaining hold-out record labels, it's going to again have a several month head start on Apple's release...

New report claims iPad mini with 2048 x 1536 display coming this fall

While alleged iPhone 5S component leaks continue to surface, we've heard and seen little news lately regarding the next generation iPad mini. The highly anticipated refresh is expected to fix the most common complaint in the slate's otherwise glowing reviews: the display.

Over the past few months, we've seen several reports claiming that Apple is going to be adding a Retina display to its popular 8-inch tablet this year. And we've got a new one today that corroborates that theory, claiming that the device is set to land in the third quarter...

Major changes reportedly coming to AppleCare this fall

Apple reportedly held a town hall session with its employees this week to discuss some significant changes coming to its AppleCare warranty service. The new policies are expected to start rolling out in the US 'very soon,' and international shortly after.

So what's going to be different? According to the report, one of the biggest changes has to do with how Apple Store employees handle iPhone repairs. Apparently, staff have been told that they will be doing a lot more in-store repairs, and less exchanges...

Apple still negotiating with Sony over iRadio terms

For months we've been hearing rumors regarding iRadio, Apple's upcoming streaming music service. It was initially supposed to launch in Q1 of this year, but the company has reportedly been having trouble reaching royalty terms with the record labels.

Then in April came word that it had locked up a deal with Universal, putting the project on track for a summer release. But it seems to have hit another snag this week, as a new report claims that the other record labels are still looking for better terms...

Amazon said to be developing glasses-free 3D smartphone

Now that Facebook has finally fulfilled the prophecies, and entered the smartphone market, all eyes are on Amazon. The online retail giant has also long been rumored to be looking to get into the space with its own handset.

And today comes a new report that adds weight to the story. Citing sources familiar with the company's plans, The WSJ says Amazon is working on a number of new hardware products, including a glasses-free 3D smartphone...

Facebook reportedly buying Waze for $1 Billion

Waze must be doing something right. Earlier this year, the popular crowdsourced GPS application was reportedly being courted by Apple for a possible buyout. And today comes a rumor that Facebook is also interested in an acquisition.

How interested? Well according to a new report this morning, the deal could be worth in upwards of $1 Billion. Apparently, the two companies have been in negotiations for the last six months, and are now in advanced due diligence...

Sharp expected to begin iPhone 5S display production in June

Earlier this year, it was believed that the iPhone 5S would go into production in March ahead of an early summer release. But after rumors of manufacturing issues began to circulate, the handset's expected arrival time was pushed back to the fall.

And a new report out of the east this morning corroborates that theory. A Japanese newspaper is reporting that Sharp, one of Apple's primary panel partners, is gearing up to begin mass production of LCD displays for the iPhone 5S next month...

Verizon to start offering $100 off iPhone 5 this month

T-Mobile must have rattled some cages when it introduced its $99 iPhone 5 last month, because we're starting to see more competitive pricing from the other carriers. Sprint is currently offering $100 off the iPhone 5 for new customers, and it looks like Verizon is about to launch a promotion of its own...

iPad mini reportedly accounted for over 60% of Apple’s tablet sales last quarter

The iPad mini has been extremely successful for Apple since it launched late last year. How successful? Well according to a new report, it accounted for more than 60% of the 19.5 million tablets the company sold last quarter.

Apple's iPad sales showed significant growth last quarter–they were nearly double what they were during the same 3-month period last year. And a lot of industry watchers have attributed the jump to the mini's popularity...

AllThingsD reaffirms Apple is working on ‘deForstallization’ in iOS 7

After months of silence, reports regarding the next major version of iOS have really picked up in recent weeks. Most chatter points to the same thing: iOS 7 will sport an all-new, flatter interface, and the redesign has Apple running behind.

And this afternoon, those two points are reiterated in a new report by AllThingsD. The tech blog says that, according to its sources, iOS 7 is such a big design overhaul, Apple has had to pull engineers from other projects to help it along...

Analyst sees larger iPhone 6 coming in June 2014

Despite the fact that Apple added a 4-inch option to its iPhone lineup last year, many folks are still calling for the Cupertino company to produce a larger handset. Even outspoken billionaire Donald Trump says he's in favor of a so-called 'iPhablet.'

During a conference call last week, Tim Cook all but shot down the idea of a larger iPhone, saying that Apple is not willing to make the tradeoffs currently necessary for bigger screens. But according to a new report, that could change next year...

Boost Mobile to begin selling prepaid iPhone later this year

Sprint's popular prepaid provider Boost Mobile will begin offering iPhone models this fall, according to an industry insider who claims to have direct knowledge of the company's plan. If true, it would be the fourth major US prepaid carrier to offer the popular handset.

But this isn't the first time rumors of a Boost Mobile, Apple partnership have surfaced. Last summer, the two were said to be working on a deal to bring the iPhone 4 and 4S to Sprint's network by the fall. Obviously, though, those particular claims never materialized...