Almost fully assembled next-gen iPhone front panel spotted

We have seen many alleged iPhone 5 components leak, although if you’d like an idea of what the next-gen iPhone’s front portion could look like, these photos spotted on Photobucket (via Apple.pro) has given us a glimpse of what the front portion of Apple’s iPhone 5 could look like. This assembled front panel includes the LCD of the phone, the home button, the shielding frame for the display along with the front-facing camera which has been installed behind some shielding as well. While the legitimacy of these components cannot be confirmed at this point, it certainly looks consistent with the rumors that had suggested that the next-gen iPhone will sport a larger (taller) display compared to its predecessors. In any case we suggest you treat these photos with a degree of skepticism for now, but be sure to check back with us on the 12th of September which is also when Apple has been rumored to announce their upcoming handset.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: iPhone 5 part leak hints at NFC hardware?, AT&T reportedly blacks out vacation dates from the 21-30 September, seemingly corroborates next-gen iPhone release rumors,

AT&T reportedly blacks out vacation dates from the 21-30 September, seemingly corroborates next-gen iPhone release rumors

AT&T logoNot too long ago, we reported that according to TechCrunch, Verizon has reportedly blacked out vacation dates for employees on the 21st of September in anticipation of the release of Apple’s next-gen iPhone. Now the folks at TechCrunch are back and according to their sources, it looks like AT&T is set to follow in Verizon’s footsteps as well by blacking out vacation dates for employees from the 21st of September to the 30th of September. Given that both Verizon and AT&T are the carriers of the iPhone, it certainly does not seem like coincidence here.

According to TechCrunch’s source, AT&T employees are currently undergoing training for the handset, although additional details about the device were not revealed. While Apple has yet to confirm the announcement date, earlier rumors have strongly suggested that the device will be announced on the 12th of September, with its release being on the 21st. In any case this will most certainly be a device worth looking forward to, so be sure to check back with us later for the details!

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: iPhone 5 Case Mate appears in AT&T inventory system, AT&T vacation blackout may indicate mid-October iPhone launch,

iPad mini due October after September iPhone 5 event tip sources

Apple‘s fall is shaping up to be a busy one, with two events in short succession tipped as the iPad mini follows on shortly after the new iPhone 5, sources claim. The two products will each get an individual moment in the spotlight, according to AllThingsD, with the next-gen iPhone widely tipped to arrive on September 12 while the smaller version of the iPad will supposedly be unveiled in October.

It’s not the first we’ve heard of separate launches. Chatter last week around earlier speculation that both the iPhone 5 and the iPad mini would be shown off at the same event was shot down by notorious insider John Gruber, who argued that Apple would never dilute its PR mojo by combining the two.

Apple declined to comment on this latest batch of talk, but according to unnamed insiders the company is on track for an October event which will see a new tablet debut. Specifications are unclear, though it’s believed to have a 7.85-inch touchscreen, which would put it in the mid-point between the current 3.5-inch iPhone and the 9.7-inch iPad.

Steve Jobs was notoriously anti-”tweener”, the CEO’s term for mid-sized tablets, at least in public, but according to reports following his death was privately not averse to the possibility. The iPad has become a significant source of income for Apple, making up a huge chunk of the company’s record earnings in recent quarters, and the “iPad mini” is expected to extend that consumer appeal.

[Image credit: Ciccarese Design]


iPad mini due October after September iPhone 5 event tip sources is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


iPad mini appears in pre-fab case photos

It appears that the iPad mini has been making the rounds in the accessories market once again as a couple of internationally-sourced photos have appeared with the unconfirmed hardware in plain view. While said cases could still have been falsified in one way or another, there are several interesting details that one should pay attention to where they anticipating the next-generation tablet. The back of this tablet – if these cases are indeed made for the real-deal device – will have not one, but two microphone holes in the center back and top of the tablet when held in portrait mode.

Another point to be aware of is the size of these cases are obviously too small for the classic iPad model. The bottoms of these cases are each created to make way for a new port configuration, as previous “leaks” have been, and the headphone hack appears to be at the top of the device – not at the bottom as the new iPhone 5 tips have suggested. The bottom of this iPad does, however, continue to have the double set of speaker hole grids like the smartphone has been teased with.

These cases appear to make the supposed smaller iPad appear quite thin. This thinness lends itself well to the idea that the tablet will essentially be an “iPad Air” as suggested just yesterday in a post all about how an iPad mini will not be appearing on September 12th. That date will more than likely play host to the iPhone 5 exclusively, paired with iOS 6 for a smartphone-centric reveal.

This iPad mini situation is more than likely headed for October, also suggested yesterday in the same post from last night, where a new iPod touch and additional smaller iPods may well be revealed. These cases being shown are being made either without any physical specifications at all, or the manufacturers have gotten their hands on a very early model of the device made specifically for accessory makers. If it’s the second option, Apple will not be happy with them, that’s for certain.

Have a peek at other recent iPad mini news bits to stay caught up on this unicorn as it edges closer and closer to reality.

[via KnowYourMobile]


iPad mini appears in pre-fab case photos is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


Rumor Mill: Apple Is Holding Two Separate Events For The New iPhone And iPad

Image (1) fake-china-iphone.jpeg for post 346732

The Intermacweb is in a tizzy today at the possibility of two upcoming Apple events – one on September 12 for a September 21st iPhone launch and another for iPad news, potentially for the fabled iPad Mini. The rumors, fanned by Gruber and Jim Dalrymple, posit that Apple is beyond the “One More Thing” excitement of the old days and is instead planning to make the most of each launch.

Quoth Gruber:

I’m thinking it makes more sense for Apple to hold two events. First, an iPhone event, focused solely on the new iPhone and iOS 6. Then, the iPhone ships nine days later, and there’s another wave of iPhone-focused attention as the reviews come out. Then, in the first or second week of October, Apple holds its traditional “music event”, exactly along the lines of the events at which they’ve been debuting new iPods for the last decade.

Apple rarely does concurrent launches, at least concurrent launches of competing mobile products. You’ll recall that Apple has launched iPod products in quick succession – they announced the new Touch, the touchscreen Nano, and the new Shuffle at the same time in 2010 – I can’t recollect a dual iPhone/iPad launch.

The iPad and the iPhone are the pride of Apple. There is no real reason to have them crowd each other, especially as we leave Back-To-School season and roll into the holidays when a new iPad may be just what Santa ordered.


iPad mini to be announced separately from iPhone 5?

Apple logoOriginally, many pundits were thinking that come this September 12th, we could very well be looking at a double whammy of announcements from the fruity company itself, and the two heavy hitters would be the alleged iPad mini and the iPhone 5. Well, it seems that there are other viewpoints to this matter, with some parties suggesting that later in the Fall, Apple would hold a second event to introduce the iPad mini in addition to whatever else hardware that they have (like a new iPod, perhaps?) planned for the upcoming holidays.

Do you think that it makes more sense for Apple to break down the announcements and introduction of two highly anticipated devices, or do you prefer Cupertino to just get done and over with the announcements so that their accountants can prepare themselves to start counting the amount of money rolling into their coffers once the two devices go on sale? All in all, one just needs to exercise a healthy dose of patience, and until September 12th arrives, you might want to up on the salt intake for all Apple related news.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Alleged iPhone 5 parts shown off in video, compared to iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 gets September 21 launch date? ,

iPhone 5 event tipped for split from iPad mini on September 12

The new iPhone (aka the iPhone 5) has been tipped several times by well-connected sources as having an announcement date of September 12 – today there’s a multi-sourced addition to that suggestion that says the event will not include the iPad mini. This next-generation size-reduced iPad device will instead be directed at an event in October, when Apple has held Music and iTunes-themed events in the past. As for the supposed Apple TV full-sized television set, that’s once again been lost to the rumor mill.

First you’ll want to check out the well thought out set of assumptions made by John Gruber of Daring Fireball, which say that a two-event release makes more sense than one. The first event, on September 12th indeed, there will be a new iPhone – a device which will then be released to the public on the 21st of September. Review units, he says, will also likely be seeded on the 12th of September at the event.

The second event would then be an iTunes event in the second week of October and would bring on several devices that are less fabulous all at once:

“An event where the iPad Air (cool, but just a smaller thinner cheaper iPad), new iPod Touch (cool, but just an iPhone without the phone), and maybe even new or at least updated iPod music players (eh) share the stage, tied together with the theme of consuming iTunes media content — that I can buy.” – Gruber

Then there’s another update coming from Jim Dalrymple of The Loop, a notoriously accurate source for Apple-related release information. Regarding the idea that there will be two events, the first having only “the new iPhone and iOS 6″, Dalrymple noted “Oh that Gruber is a smart fellow.” This essentially being a Bible-truth confirmation when it comes to the all-powerful tip-line that is well-connected Apple leaksters.

Have a peek at our [Apple portal] for more information on the upcoming set of devices that’ll be blowing the doors off your Apple-loving brain very, very soon, and let us know what you think of the next generation already in the mix!


iPhone 5 event tipped for split from iPad mini on September 12 is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


SlashGear Evening Wrap-Up: August 23, 2012

Welcome to Thursday folks – just one more work day to go and another weekend will be here. Today a new video gave us a look at reported iPhone 5 parts, and it seems that the iPhone will be sporting a new look with the next iteration. Recent whispers are saying that Nokia will reveal a total of three new Windows Phone devices during its September 5 event in New York City, and today Microsoft updated its logo for the first time in a whopping 25 years.


Twitter has taken away Tumblr Friend Finder functionality, and the inexpensive T-Mobile Concord has launched to bring 4G to budget-minded consumers. It was recently discovered that the SMS security hole known to plague iPhones doesn’t affect other devices running a different OS like Android or BlackBerry, and LG has apparently started working on the screen that may end up gracing the iPhone 5. Speaking of the iPhone, it seems that production on the next model has slowed thanks to a shortage of supplies.

The FCC has approved Verizon’s bid to buy up additional 4G LTE spectrum, and the Xbox 360 will be offering users election coverage starting next week, complete with live streams of the three debates that are planned. A large percentage of consumers are saying that they don’t need 4G LTE service, despite the fact that carriers are advertising it like mad. There’s a new OS X Mountain Lion update on the scene, and it’s bringing some software fixes with it, while today we received word that Facebook’s storage requirements grow by 500TB each and every day.

Sony Mobile has announced that it will be laying off 1,000 employees by March 2014, and the jury that is deciding the Apple and Samsung patent case decided to put in a little bit of overtime today. Paypal will be teaming up with Discover to bring its service to a ton of retail locations, Nissan will be giving prospective buyers of its 2013 Pathfinder a virtual tour of the car with a little help from Kinect, and Amazon has a new event coming up next month, where we’re thinking it will announce a brand new Kindle Fire. It just so happens that we’ll be at that event, so if there is a new Kindle Fire announced, you’ll be able to read all about it here at SlashGear.

Finally tonight, we have a brand new hands-on with the Verizon Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0. Enjoy the rest of your evening everyone, and we’ll see you back here tomorrow night for Friday’s edition of the Wrap-Up!


SlashGear Evening Wrap-Up: August 23, 2012 is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


iPhone 5 next-gen features “not needed” by consumers

A lot of people are expecting to see 4G LTE capabilities in the next iPhone, but a new poll suggests that a significant percentage of smartphone users aren’t all that interested in the feature. According to a new poll from Piper Jaffray, 46.8% of consumers say they don’t need 4G LTE. Piper Jaffray surveyed 3,000 people to arrive at this conclusion, which given the current 4G LTE push we see coming from carriers, is rather surprising.


Aside from those 46.8% who say they don’t need 4G LTE, another 25.7% think that all of the available 4G networks are the same (but don’t tell Verizon that). In all, 51% of respondents said that they either don’t know who offers the best 4G LTE network or think that all of them are the same anyway. A paltry 15.1% of respondents said that 4G LTE is the best network technology available today, and when it comes to who offers the best network, those with an opinion gave Verizon the crown, with the likes of AT&T and T-Mobile missing out on the top spot.

Piper Jaffray senior analyst Christopher Larsen said that this mixed bag of results is actually good for everyone. Verizon, for instance, is clearly benefiting from a level of brand recognition that the other carriers weren’t able to achieve, but the fact that so many consumers don’t have an opinion about the different 4G networks means that there’s still time for those other carriers to capture some consumer attention. In the end, the surprising results of this poll show that there’s still plenty of time for all of the carriers to get in on the 4G LTE action.

But those carriers will obviously have to convince these indifferent consumers that 4G LTE is indeed the way to go, and show them that 4G LTE brings actual benefits outside of just being a buzz term. If anything, this poll should cause carriers to push 4G LTE even harder, as it shows that a number of consumers out have yet to convert. That fact will likely translate into dollar signs for carriers who are gearing up for 4G LTE pushes, so keep an eye out for that.

[via CNET]


iPhone 5 next-gen features “not needed” by consumers is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


iPhone 5 parts video shows smartphone fondle

A new video has been released by a rabid Apple fan showing off several components of what they believe will be the new iPhone 5 – or “the New iPhone” if you prefer. This device is shown compared by SmartphoneMedic to the iPhone 4S/4 casing we already know and appears to be quite similar to the supposed parts we’ve already seen hit the accessories market in leaked photos galore. These parts include an elongated display with the same width as its predecessor as well as a new double-sided mini dock for USB connections.

The video itself doesn’t let us in on a whole heck of a lot of new information that we haven’t already seen several times, but seeing it all in video form does give some basic form of visual legitimacy to the whole equation. This device appears to have a slightly modified set of holes above the display area, with a hole instead of a line and a smaller area for the device’s front-facing camera to peek through.

This video also compares the front panel of this supposed iPhone 5 to the currently already released Samsung Galaxy S III – in Garnet Red as supplied by AT&T. This comparison shows the amazing difference between the two units. with the Galaxy S III’s display dwarfing that of the possible Apple hardware. The Galaxy S III is also out on the market in this same hardware configuration on several other carriers in the USA as well as abroad.

The iPhone here is also appearing in dock form, with a close-up of the bottom of the device showing a port that has 8 pins on one side and 8 pins on the other. This piece lends itself well to the idea that a 16-pin connector is coming with this next-generation line of devices for Apple, with the ability to plug in right side up or upside down with no trouble either way.

Have a peek at the timeline below to see several other important leaks and tips regarding the iPhone 5, and see our iPhone 5 collection of posts in its entirety to get the full picture – put the full puzzle together here and now!

[via MacRumors]


iPhone 5 parts video shows smartphone fondle is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.