Hasta La Gadget!

Apple is again tipped to be readying its own Pandora-rivaling streaming music service, using iPhone and iPad playback patterns to create customized radio stations, though it’s unlikely to be ready in time for the iPhone 5 launch. The longstanding rumor was again reinvigorated by insider whispers to the NYT and the WSJ, with chatter of ongoing record label negotiations that focus on giving Apple greater flexibility in what it could do with each streaming license.

For instance, rather than the relatively limited licensing that Pandora, Slacker, and other such streaming services use, and which force compromises such as only allowing a certain number of playback repeats per track per hour, Apple is apparently aiming for greater control over how often music could be played. Those direct licenses, the insiders claim, could result in a hybridization of Pandora and Spotify, with users able to repeat playback of their favorite tracks.

The service would be ad-supported, it’s said, with Apple using its iAd system, though there’s also the possibility of a subscription fee. Other platforms, such as Spotify and Pandora, take the approach of offering free, ad-supported accounts, or premium accounts with no advertising for a monthly fee.

Offering mobile music has become something of a niche treat in recent months. Nokia has attempted to differentiate its Windows Phone handsets by bundling access to Nokia Music, which includes both specially curated playlists of themed tracks as well as a Pandora-style customized “radio” option which builds a unique playlist based on a seed track. Nokia’s particular gimmick is to make Nokia Music entirely free, both of charges and any registration process, and playlists can be downloaded to the phone for offline enjoyment (though not transferred off of it).

Apple’s system, however, would have the benefit of broad, cross-platform support, according to the tipsters. The unnamed service would work not only on the iPad and iPhone, but on the iPod touch, Mac computers, and the Apple TV. There’s also the possibility of PC support, though unsurprisingly Android devices aren’t expected to be supported.

With negotiations still tipped to be in the early stages, and the music industry as a whole being cautious about inking digital deals, the new Apple streaming service is unlikely to arrive publicly any time soon, the sources warn. Think “months” rather than in time for the iPhone 5 launch next week, is the suggestion.

Apple streaming Pandora rival tipped “within months” is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Nokia has slashed the price of its existing Windows Phone 7 devices and reportedly plans to take responsibility for manufacturing its new Lumia 920 and 820 models, according to industry whispers. Prices for the Lumia 800 have been slashed by around 15-percent, the biggest cut to the range, according to Reuters‘ insiders, with talk that the firm has not outsourced production of the new Windows Phone 8 handsets revealed yesterday, but will instead build them in-house.

Previously, Compal Communications had been responsible for production of the Lumia 800 and other existing first-gen Windwos Phones, but that’s set to change for the Lumia 920 and 820. Nokia will supposedly use its own facilities, DigiTimes says, though may continue to outsource mid- and entry-level Windows Phone devices to Compal and other OEMs in the future.

As for the cheaper prices for existing phones, Nokia painted the decision as a standard part of device evolution. “Our pricing has been business as usual, reflecting typical product lifecycle changes” a Nokia spokesperson said in a statement, though declined to comment specifically on the reported cuts.

Nonetheless, with no official release date given for the new phones, nor indications of how much they will cost, there’s uncertainty as to how Nokia’s ailing fortunes will do over the next few months. Although pressed, the company declined to say when exactly the Windows Phone 8 Lumias would hit shelves, or indeed with which carriers.

Instead, it promised availability later in the year, with both 4G LTE and HSPA+ versions on offer. More on the new Lumia devices in our full wrap-up.

[via Unwired View]

Nokia WP8 Lumia production reportedly in-house; Existing phone prices slashed is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The next iPhone’s unveiling date is safely locked down. Whether or not it arrives at every US carrier simultaneously is up in the air, however, and there’s signs that Sprint’s model might not ship as quickly as we’d like. Carrier training documents obtained by iSource, which we’ve since verified are real, would require that sales staff and technicians all be ready to offer “in-store Apple support” on October 15th, wrapping up their earliest training by the 30th — that’s up to a month after the introductory event, which would reduce the chances of a simultaneous launch if the first wave of iPhone availability is as close as the rumors would have you believe. Before you start plotting a carrier switch out of impatience, we’ll add that there’s a few disclaimers at play. First is simply that October 15th is a Monday, which is very out of step with Apple’s habit of launching iPhones on Fridays. We’d see that day as the target for training alone, and that’s assuming that Sprint needs everyone on the same page before the iPhone is in stores. More importantly, we know from our own tips that Sprint’s internal calendar is in flux: the provider may not have concrete plans until after Apple’s executives leave the event stage next week. As such, we’d treat the document leak more as a heads-up than a guarantee of trouble in Sprint’s schedule.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Sprint training docs cast doubt on 2012 iPhone launch timing, but don’t panic yet originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 02:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Nokia Lumia 820 is fresh on everyone’s minds, and rumors of a 5-inch Android device from HTC are floating around, so why not add a couple more pieces of kindling to the fire? We’ve been handed images of Verizon’s device management system (DMD, for short) showing off a couple new devices: the Nokia Lumia 822 (in Gray and White) and the HTC 6435, which we’ve seen leaked as the potential Galaxy Note competitor. While this doesn’t guarantee a surefire launch in any way, phones typically pop up in the DMD a few weeks prior to launch — and it’s good news for two groups of people: Windows Phone fans anxiously awaiting something fresh on the LTE carrier, and phablet fans looking for a device not called the Intuition.

[Thanks, Anonymous!]

Continue reading Nokia Lumia 822 and 5-inch HTC device found in Verizon systems

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

Nokia Lumia 822 and 5-inch HTC device found in Verizon systems originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 02:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple is reportedly planning to corner the market in next-gen iOS Dock Connector Adapters, refusing to give third-party manufacturers technical details and instead forcing them to buy official examples. Described as “exclusive initial vendor” by iLounge‘s sources, Apple’s monopoly status will supposedly see Dock Connector Adapters sold at approximately $10 each or three for $29. Other accessories will also carry a Cupertino premium.

Apple’s branded USB cables, for instance, will be $19 each the insiders suggest. The market will be forced to stomach the pricing too, as it’s widely believed that Apple intends to change the standard docking connector from the current, broad 30-pin example, to a far smaller version.

That smaller version will allow Apple to save space on smaller devices like the iPhone 5, but also allow the company to in effect hit reset on third-party hardware. Unsurprisingly, it’s cash that is apparently Apple’s big motivator: the sources claim Apple expects to sell 10m Adapters by the end of this year, reaping $100m in revenue.

What’s unknown is whether Apple will eventually loosen its grip on the connectivity kit, or remain the sole provider. That could lead to no shortage of frustration by accessory manufacturers, and if it persists we wouldn’t be surprised to see the odd lawsuit sprout.

Apple tipped to rule Dock Connector supplies with iron fist is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.