Hasta La Gadget!

Current reports indicate that Apple will move to a larger screen on the next iPhone, bringing with it an increase in resolution. Now the Wall Street Journal reports that Apple is planning to use a new type of touchscreen that’s thinner than current technologies. Sharp, Japan Display, and LG are all said to be producing in-cell touch panels for the next iPhone, according to sources familiar with the matter.

In-cell technology integrates the touch sensors directly into the LCD, negating the need for an additional touch layer which adds thickness to the screen. The difference is only around 0.5mm, but the removal of that layer will also result in improved screen quality. In addition, the Wall Street Journal says that Apple’s supply chain would be simplified, and that the company would ultimately cut costs as a result of the move.

That space could allow for the device to be slightly thinner, or give Apple extra space for additional components. The use of an even smaller SIM card would also give Apple more room to play with, and European carriers are reportedly stocking up on the nano-SIM that was recently approved. The going theory is that Apple will use the new standard in the next iPhone, with the nano-SIM being 40% smaller than current micro-SIMs. The crucial piece of information to take away is that Apple reportedly designed the next iPhone around the new nano-SIM, which puts the standard war with RIM, Motorola, and Nokia into a whole new perspective.

The next iPhone is said to have 3.95-inch screen with a 1136×640 resolution, a move to an aspect ratio close to 16:9. Leaked backplates show that the handset will feature a two tone aluminium back, as well as a new 19-pin dock connector and what look to be machine drilled speaker and microphone holes. The core apps of iOS6 will take advantage of the new resolution, and Apple will reportedly encourage developers to redesign their own apps to do the same.

Next iPhone tipped for thinner screen as carriers stock up on nano-SIMs is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

There’s no escaping the rumor hype that a smaller iPad is on the way (it’s currently suggested that such a tablet will have a 7.85-inch screen). Two years ago, Steve Jobs more or less said they had tested a seven-inch tablet, and it wasn’t a great idea. But since then, consumers have clearly shown that they like the idea of tablets smaller than the iPad, and tech companies have designed UIs that actually work pretty well for screens that size. If you’re considering an iPad and had the choice, would you go with a 9.7-inch model, or opt for a smaller one? More »

Amazon’s larger Kindle Fire is still in the pipeline, sources insist, scaling up from the existing 7-inch slate as Apple reportedly scales down to tweener tablet levels. A namedrop in the same NYT article that threw further weight against the iPad mini rumors, according to unnamed developers the retailer is pushing ahead with what’s tipped to be a roughly 10-inch variant of the Kindle Fire, bringing the challenge to Apple’s new iPad.

While Amazon spokespeople unsurprisingly declined to comment on the newspaper’s chatter, the idea of a new, larger Kindle Fire isn’t exactly new. Even before the original Kindle Fire was revealed, speculation had it that Amazon was working on not one but two devices: a cheap, small model (which went on to hit virtual shelves at $199) and a larger, more capable version.

That second model never arrived, however, with talk that Amazon encountered issues with components and performance, among other things. However, going by the insider whispers, that work might be culminating again in a larger device due later in 2012.

Exact hardware details are in short supply, but Android is undoubtedly running – albeit heavily reskinned for Amazon’s content-selling purposes – under the hood, and a screen sized more akin to the 9.7-inch current iPad is likely.

Any launch is most likely to take place alongside the second-generation 7-inch Kindle Fire, which as rumor would have it is due in Q3 with a 1280 x 800 display. Amazon is also tipped to be working on a Kindle smartphone.

10-inch Kindle Fire tipped as Amazon new iPad challenge imminent is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The Nexus 7 launch and various iPad Mini rumors means it’s hard not to wonder if Apple is poised to enter the small tablet market, and now a new report from The New York Times indicates that may be the case. The publication corroborates an earlier report by The Wall Street Journal, saying that Cupertino is indeed working on a 7.85-inch iPad that will sell for “significantly less” than the current $499 iPad. The New York Times goes on to say that a smaller iPad would allow Apple to cater to consumers demands for different screen sizes.

Comparisons are drawn between Apple’s various iPods, with analysts saying that a smaller device would be a “sweet spot”, allowing for better portability. It would also be a response to tablets such as the Nexus 7, which offer good specs and comparable features for a much lower price. The New York Times does note that Steve Jobs famously dismissed the idea of a smaller tablet, although he was known to have sudden changes in opinion.

Current rumors suggest that the iPad Mini would feature a 7.85-inch screen. The design is said to take cues from the current iPod Touch, and the device will feature WiFi and LTE connectivity like the current iPad. It’s not clear what resolution the screen will have, however, with some reports suggesting a Retina display while others indicate the tablet may stick with 1024×768. The iPad Mini is expected to debut before the end of the year, and is said to cost around $299.

iPad Mini is coming, says New York Times is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Here’s an interesting bit of news for you: Sony may be planning to unleash a brand new PS3 model. Images of the redesigned console were first revealed in an apparent Sony filing with Brazilian telecommunications regulator Anatel and were quickly picked up by Technoblog. Now the images are spreading across the internet like wildfire, and we have to say that they have us pretty intrigued.

This new model looks relatively similar to the PS3 Slim we all know and love, but there are a few pretty major changes. First up, the new console appears to be smaller than the PS3 Slim and looks as if it’s ditching the disc slot in favor of a top-loading disc tray. This new PS3 also comes with a ridged texture, which admittedly looks a little out of place when compared to the sleek consoles of the current generation.

The database on Anatel’s website also shows that Sony Brasil is after approval for three different versions of this new PS3 model, each with a different size hard drive: 16GB, 250GB, and 500GB. Other than the difference in hard drive sizes, however, these consoles are the same. The idea that Sony is planning to offer a version with a measly 16GB hard drive suggests to us that the company is looking to market this new console to budget gamers and families, much like Microsoft has done with the 4GB Xbox 360 S.

Of course, these images could all be fake, which remains a very real possibility. Remember though that we saw the first images of the PS3 Slim through a leak similar to this, and back then a lot of people thought it was a hoax as well. The low-quality images do make a us bit suspicious, so we’ll have to wait until Sony makes a comment on these new pictures before we can make the call. Perhaps if this is all real, we’ll get an official reveal at Gamescom in Germany next month? Stay tuned.

[via Joystiq]

New PS3 model possibly on the way as images surface is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.