Hasta La Gadget!

MetroPCS could be the target of a bidding war, with wireless industry whispers that Deutsche Telekom’s bid to merge the carrier with T-Mobile USA may face a challenge from another US network. Although the agreement with Deutsche Telekom has already been announced as in incipient merger, a trio of sources speaking to Bloomberg claim ailing rival Sprint is weighing a counter-bid that could be submitted as early as next week.

The CDMA carrier’s board is meeting within the next two days to decide whether to chase a deal of its own, though there’s no guarantee that one will be submitted. A company spokesperson declined to comment – as did those from MetroPCS and Deutsche Telecom – though another source claims the German firm is already prepared to fire back with a new offer, and “would consider  better terms if necessary,” should Sprint weigh in.

It’s not apparently the first time Sprint has considered snatching up MatroPCS. Rumors earlier in the year suggested the acquisition had been considered, but was shelved after the board decided the price was too rich for its liking.

However, an upward change in share price has left the carrier looking more solid, and – along with the threat of T-Mobile USA swelling into a more significant challenger – a deal may now be something Sprint can’t afford to opt out of. Together, T-Mobile USA and Metro PCS would have 42.5m subscribers and sales of around $24.8bn.

A deal between the two CDMA carriers, though, might make more sense than with GSM-based T-Mobile USA. There would be significant network infrastructure to be done in order to combine the MetroPCS and T-Mobile USA’s service, though the upside is the promise of an LTE network with claimed data speeds of double what Verizon is currently offering.

T-Mobile MetroPCS deal faces Sprint counter-offer threat is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Today, Apple posted up a handful of new job listings. However, one of them looks rather interesting to say the least. The job posting in question says that Apple is looking for a “SoC Modeling Architect – Manager/Lead.” This could point to an all-new system-on-a-chip design that Apple might be planning to tackle.

Specifically, the SoC Modeling Architect would be “at the center of a chip design effort interfacing with all disciplines, with a critical impact on getting functional products to millions of customers quickly.” After the introduction of Apple’s A6 processor, the company may be looking to shake things up with their next-gen offering.

By completely designing their own SoC chip from the ground up, it’s said that Apple would be able to offer improved power consumption and better performance out of their devices. If Apple does actually end up doing this, it’ll most likely be initiated in the A7 chip or even a slight upgrade to the A6.

Either way, we’re not sure exactly what Apple has up its sleeve. The company may even be implementing some SoC work into their MacBook Air laptops, which would begin the process of driving out Intel from their computer business, and it would be the first time we would see an in-house chip used in an Apple computer. Knowing Apple, this wouldn’t be a surprising move at all. Then again, we’re only dreaming here, so you’ll sadly have to just wait and find out to see what the company has in store.

[via TechCrunch]

Apple job posting hints at all-new system on a chip is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

According to a photo taken of a database listing from what is said to be Carphone Warehouse in the UK, a listing of a 32GB version of the Nexus 7 appears, along with an Invisishield for a “Samsung Nexus 2.” This doesn’t necessarily mean that these devices are confirmed, but it makes us wonder even more.

Google’s Nexus 7 only comes in 8GB and 16GB variants, while its competitors are now churning out 32GB models, like the Kindle Fire HD and the Nook Tablet series. With that said, Google could succumb to the pressure and release a 32GB model at some point in the near future. Users would definitely appreciate it, especially since movies and music can take up a lot of storage space.

A Samsung Galaxy Nexus 2 device is easily believable as well, since we’ve already heard about it a couple weeks ago. The Galaxy Nexus 2 was supposedly leaked when a few sample photos from the device’s camera showed up on the internet with a familiar model number in the EXIF data. Of course, we don’t know what the device looks like or if it’s even real, but today’s leak is reassurance.

Then again, the listing that shows up in the inventory screenshot may not actually mean the “Nexus 2,” but rather just a screen protector for the regular Samsung Galaxy Nexus. The “2″ may possibly be just a database requirement of some sort that the warehouse follows. Then again, we don’t know for sure, so take it with a grain of salt.

[via Android Community]

Nexus 7 32GB and Galaxy Nexus 2 show up in warehouse database is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Smartwatches have been gaining a little bit of traction somewhat recently. Even though Sony‘s own smartwatch was a little less than steller, the infamous Pebble smartwatch was a huge success on Kickstarter, getting over $10 million in funding. Google may also be getting into the smartwatch market, as an interesting patent filed on behalf of the search giant was just approved.

The patent in question was filed around this time last year, and it’s finally been approved by the US Trademark and Patent Office. The patent describes this supposed smartwatch as being equipped with a camera and uses a clear flip-up cover that can display augmented reality information. There’s also a “wireless transceiver” that will allow the watch to connect to wireless networks.

There’s also a “tactile user interface” that “can be configured to provide interaction between a user and the smart-watch.” Overall, it sounds like a pretty comprehensive little device, certainly more advanced than the smartwatches of today. We’re pretty curious as to how Google plans to introduce this kind of smartwatch to consumers.

Obviously, details are still pretty slim at this point. There’s no prototypes or mockups that we know of, so all we can do right now is just sit and wonder what this smartwatch will be like. If a Google smartwatch does end up hitting the market, it’ll most likely see a slow rollout with a pretty big price tag possibly — similar to how the company is handling its Google Glasses.

[via Engadget]

Google smartwatch patent gets approved is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Chatter of Apple’s iPad mini entering mass production has resurfaced, with new sources claiming the 7.85-inch slate has indeed begun rolling off manufacturing lines ahead of an estimated October launch. According to the WSJ‘s “people with knowledge of the situation” the cheaper, smaller iPad is all-systems-go among Apple’s Asian component suppliers, believed to include LG Display and AUO.

Those two firms are tipped to be providing Apple with the 7.85-inch display the iPad mini is rumored to use. Its resolution will be less than the Retina Display panel of the new iPad, which comes in at an impressive 2048 x 1536, and is likely to be more akin to the 1024 x 768 of the original and second-gen iPads, making for an easier job for developers.

It’s not the first time we’ve heard that the iPad mini is in production. Last month, Taiwanese press reported that both Foxconn and Pegatron had begun manufacturing, doubling up so as to cater for expected high demand. That level of consumer interest will undoubtedly be based for the large part on price, and though figures haven’t been finalized, Apple has a small gap between the new iPod touch, from $299, and the iPad 2, which remains on sale at $399. The new iPad starts at $499.

Although Steve Jobs was famously dismissive of smaller tablets, describing them as “tweeners” and arguing that manufacturers would need to supply sandpaper for fingers in order for users to actually hit on-screen graphics with any accuracy, the rise of budget models like Google’s Nexus 7, Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD, and B&N’s NOOK HD has highlighted a potential hole in Apple’s line-up.

A smaller iPad would also be more comfortable to hold in one hand, such as for reading ebooks, and more portable for mobile use, rather than being left on the coffee table back home. An event to launch the slate is tipped to be in the pipeline for October 10.

[Image via Ciccarese Design]

iPad mini in production says WSJ with 7.85″ screen is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.