Nov 02

Rumor: First Chrome OS Notebooks Land This Month

Posted in: chrome os, Google, Notebooks, rumors, Today's Chili

Google’s browser-based operating system, Chrome OS, will begin shipping with notebooks sometime in November, according to Asian suppliers who claim to be making parts for the devices.

Taiwanese publication DigiTimes cites “sources from component players” who claim Acer and Hewlett-Packard will soon offer Chrome OS notebooks, and Google will also be selling its own branded Chrome OS notebook made by manufacturer Inventec.

Google introduced Chrome OS in November, 2009. The operating system is built around a special version of the Google Chrome browser, modified to run web apps, and with its own underlying file and storage system. Google said that devices shipping with Chrome OS will rely on flash memory and internet storage rather than traditional hard drives. This setup will ensure extremely fast boot-up times of about 7 seconds, Google said.

“We want Google Chrome OS to be blazingly fast … to boot up like a TV,” said Sundar Pichai, vice president of product management for Google, during the November 2009 press conference.

A release this month would also pit Google against Apple, which recently released new MacBook Airs touting flash memory and instant-on capability.

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Photo illustration by Charlie Sorrel/Wired.com


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Oct 29

Fortune: Verizon iPhone Debuts Early 2011

Posted in: Apple, iPhone, Phones, rumors, Today's Chili, verizon

The elusive Verizon iPhone is going to become a reality early next year, according to a chorus of mainstream publications.

Following The Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Bloomberg, now Fortune claims that a Verizon iPhone is “fait accompli” (i.e., a done deal).

Repeating past rumors, Fortune says the new iPhone will be compatible with Verizon’s CDMA network. Fortune notes that globetrotters won’t be able to use the phone outside the United States: Most international networks rely on the GSM standard, so the Verizon iPhone can’t be used as a “world phone.”

Tech observers and analysts have squabbled about a Verizon iPhone for years, and the device appears to be forthcoming. Perhaps the most telling sign was when Verizon announced earlier this month that it would sell Apple’s iPads — a move that reveals that Apple and Verizon are finally partners.

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Photo of an AT&T-compatible iPhone 4: Jon Snyder/Wired.com


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Oct 27

HP contracts 5 or 6 new Palm devices for 2011?

Posted in: HP, palm, pre, rumor, rumors, Today's Chili, webos

Underwhelmed by the feeling of sameness with the Pre 2? Well, you may or may not be in luck; Chinese-based CENS.com is reporting that manufacturers Foxconn and Compal now have contracts to manufacturer up to six new Palm devices for 2011. That boils down to one for Compal, and either four or five for Foxconn. We’d venture a guess that PalmPad’s at least one of those, seeing as it’s due early next year, but what about the others? Whatever (stackable) cards HP / Palm have in hand aren’t exactly being laid out, and while we can’t confirm this report ourselves, rest assured, we’re hoping really hard that there’ll be more webOS options with non-pebble form factors.

HP contracts 5 or 6 new Palm devices for 2011? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 27

White iPhone 4 Delayed Again … or Forever?

Posted in: Apple, iPhone, Phones, rumors, Today's Chili

Apple has delayed the white model of the iPhone 4 until spring of 2011, a release date that’s difficult to believe.

The black iPhone 4 hit stores in June, 2010, but the release of the white model was mysteriously postponed — first for a month, then to the end of the year, and now until spring of next year.

“We’re sorry to disappoint customers waiting for the white iPhone again,” an Apple spokeswoman told Reuters, declining to explain the delay. In earlier press releases, Apple said it was facing manufacturing challenges with the white iPhone model.

The white iPhone’s long delay is strange for a company that prides meeting most of its ship dates — Apple often releases products the day Steve Jobs announces them. Also, Apple has released an iPhone upgrade each summer, so a spring release for the iPhone 4 would be odd, since a fifth-generation iPhone would likely be due out three months later. Who would buy one then?

Apple may indeed be planning to cut its losses. Boy Genius Report, who has a solid track record with reporting scoops on cellphone news, claims receiving a tip that Apple is canceling the white iPhone altogether, and that another “delay” will be announced around March leading into the release of the iPhone 5 in June or July.

Though Apple has been mum about details explaining the delay, the departure of Mark Papermaster, Apple’s executive in charge of iPhone hardware, was a telling incident. Apple hired Papermaster in 2008 — a move that his previous employer, IBM, attempted to block to prevent him from divulging secrets about its microchips. (Papermaster was a key player in developing the PowerPC chips used in previous-generation Macs.) Only two years later, in August 2010, Papermaster was gone.

Though Apple has not officially commented on whether Papermaster’s exit was a firing or a resignation, multiple anonymous sources claim he was ousted because of issues with the iPhone 4, including the antenna flaw that led to a media flurry earlier this year and the white iPhone 4’s delay.

What might the problem be with manufacturing? One lucky owner of a white iPhone 4 told blog Pocket Lint that Asian suppliers had shipped white iPhones with a white Home button that didn’t match the color of the faceplate — one of those details that would drive Jobs crazy.

Long story short, if you’re been holding off on buying an iPhone 4 because you want a white model, don’t bother. Even if it does ship in the spring, it’d probably be a bad idea to buy one because the fifth-gen iPhone would come out soon after, and you’d inevitably have buyers’ remorse. We’re pretty sure it’s delayed forever, though. For-e-ver. (See the video below for clarification.)

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Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com


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Oct 26

T-Mobile launching data tethering / wireless hotspot plan on Nov. 3rd for $14.99?

Posted in: bluetooth, hotspot, hspa, leak, leaked, leaks, rumor, rumors, t-mobile, TMobile, Today's Chili

T-Mobile said it was “working to deliver” hotspot support to T-Mobile G2 users, and now we might know the reason for the delay — an allegedly leaked document details Magenta’s scheme to offer a comprehensive data tethering plan for a $14.99 monthly fee. According to the convincingly worded internal memo, the new feature will let you tether over WiFi, Bluetooth or a physical USB cable at both 3G and HSPA+ speeds, though only on a $20 or higher unlimited data plan — so if you’ve got just 200MB, you’ll have to spend them on the small screen. The doc also says it’s subject to T-Mobile’s recent throttling efforts, so don’t expect to enjoy HSPA+ on your tethered tablet for long: “Customers who purchase a T-Mobile mobile broadband product like the upcoming Galaxy Tab should activate with a webConnect plan to ensure the best experience,” the document specifically suggests. The plan’s apparently coming November 3rd, a date which is associated with another likely rumor, too — TmoNews has a leaked email of its own suggesting the new myTouch will hit November 3rd as well. With Verizon, AT&T and Sprint all already charging for connection sharing, we suppose the writing was on the wall. The days of ambiguous wireless freedom are just about over, folks.

T-Mobile launching data tethering / wireless hotspot plan on Nov. 3rd for $14.99? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 17:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 26

HTC Speedy a Knight in Sprint armor coming January 6th?

Posted in: HTC, rumor, rumors, Sprint, Today's Chili

We were just getting used to HTC Knight when along comes more supposed details of the still-unconfirmed slider. Boy Genius Report has what it claims is a leaked accessories list from Sprint that reveals a case for the Knight is due on January 6th, 2011. Does that mean the phone itself is launching on the same date? Would that date have something to do with the start of CES? Oh, and BGR also claims from a source the Knight is getting a new title. What do you think about the HTC Speedy — descriptive, eh? As far as we can tell, there isn’t really much else to go by at this point, so our jump to conclusion will just have to stay under the bed for now.

HTC Speedy a Knight in Sprint armor coming January 6th? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 02:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 23

HTC Knight surfaces for Sprint with Android and a sliding hinge of some sort?

Posted in: Android, HTC, rumor, rumors, slider, smartphone, Sprint, Today's Chili

What do we know about the picture above? Not much more than meets the eye — this alleged HTC Knight is for Sprint and navigates Android using capacitive touchscreen keys. We do get a little more detail from the source of the image, who gave XDA-developers an XML file that mentions users should not “slide screen in/out” during activation. That certainly suggests that we’re looking at a slider, but not necessarily a physical QWERTY keyboard — after all, a very similar-looking HTC device recently appeared sporting a slide-out speaker bar.

[Thanks, Delon H.]

HTC Knight surfaces for Sprint with Android and a sliding hinge of some sort? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 23:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 22

Dell Venue Pro gets Expansys listing: £499.99 for November 8th

Posted in: europe, rumor, rumors, Today's Chili, uk, united kingdom, UnitedKingdom, windows phone, windows phone 7, WindowsPhone, WindowsPhone7, Wp7

Don’t take this as the gospel, but online retailer Expansys has gone ahead and listed Dell’s Venue Pro — affectionately known as “the Windows Phone 7 device with a portrait QWERTY slider” — with pricing and availability date in tow. Which, if you’re wondering, is £499.99 (or about $783 in US dollars, when crudely converted) and Monday, November 8th, respectively. That’s just over two weeks away, which means if it is true, you won’t have long to wait… and if it’s not true, you’ll know soon enough, anyway.

Dell Venue Pro gets Expansys listing: £499.99 for November 8th originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 17:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 22

Report: Nook Color Will Be Android-Based Reader/Tablet

Posted in: barnes noble, e-books, e-readers, nook, rumors, Tablets and E-Readers, Today's Chili, touchscreen

Rumors are swirling that Barnes & Noble’s next device after the first-generation Nook will be an Android-based, full-color, touchscreen e-reader. The company will reportedly announce the e-reader/tablet hybrid, called the Nook Color, at its October 26 media event in New York.

“It’s a big step ahead, instead of chasing Amazon,” a source told CNET editor David Carnoy. Carnoy identifies the source as an anonymous tipster “who has proven reliable in the past.”

Reportedly, the Nook Color will have be Android-based like the current Nook, have a 7-inch screen and retail for $249. It won’t have quite as much functionality as the iPad or a full Android tablet, but it will also cost much less.

Currently, the Nook has a custom Android-based OS, a 6″ black-and-white E Ink screen, a 3.5″ color touchscreen LCD for navigation, and costs $149 ($199 for a model with 3G). Barnes & Noble will reportedly continue to sell the current Nook along with the Nook Color.

Barnes & Noble has definitely long been interested in combining e-books with color. Earlier this year, Pandigital offered a 7″ color reader with access to Barnes & Noble’s e-bookstore. The Pandigital Novel was available at many retail outlets, but was panned for poor hardware and interface design and went back to E Ink in its second iteration.

It’s possible that a color-capable Nook could use a Mirasol screen. Developed by Qualcomm, the Mirasol is low-power, is readable in direct sunlight, switches back and forth between color and black-and-white, and can play video. In August, we reported that Qualcomm was shipping 5.7″ screens at the end of 2010 for devices — including one from “a major client” — slated to appear in early 2011.

That doesn’t match the specs suggested by CNET’s source, which instead point to a 7″ LCD touchscreen. It would also mean that the new Nook wouldn’t appear until sometime next year at the earliest.

Barnes & Noble could also stick with the Nook’s two-screen approach, using a 5.7″ Mirasol screen for display and a 3.5″ LCD touchscreen for navigation. It may not run a full range of applications like a hybrid, but would be a solid media player, offering color books, photos, the web and some video on a single screen. Barnes & Noble could announce the device now, do preorders later this year, and begin shipping it in late winter or spring 2011.

That’s not quite as good as being able to sell it right away, but might slow the Kindle 3’s momentum. And with a firmware upgrade for existing Nooks on the way, they can continue to sell the discounted older device and plenty of e-books until the Nook Color arrives.

Image: Mirasol prototype e-reader.

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Oct 19

What to Expect From Apple’s Mac Event

Posted in: Apple, Mac, Notebooks, rumors, Today's Chili


The iPad and iPhone have hogged the media’s attention for months, but Apple is preparing to turn the spotlight onto its Macintosh computers in a news conference Wednesday.

Just what can we expect? Apple observers are exchanging whispers about new notebooks and a preview of the next Mac operating system. Here’s a quick rundown of what Apple is likely to unveil at the presser.

New MacBooks

Multiple independent publications received tips about major upgrades for Apple’s ultrathin notebook, the MacBook Air. Rumor has it that the Air will come in two different sizes — 13.3 inches and 11.6 inches — and come with an even-thinner unibody enclosure.

The internals could be even more interesting. AppleInsider claims the Air will include flash storage, which would theoretically enable extremely fast boot times and “instant-on” capabilities. Cult of Mac adds that the Air will have a bigger battery providing 8 to 10 hours of battery life.

These rumors seem plausible given that a bigger battery would follow the trend of Apple integrating built-in batteries into its other MacBooks, which get about 10 hours of battery life. Flash storage and instant-on capability on a notebook would be a logical next step following the iPad.

Publications haven’t been tipped off about new MacBook Pros, but it’s likely we’ll see incremental upgrades for these notebooks as well: They were last upgraded about six months ago, and on average the MacBook Pro gets refreshed every seven months.

Mac OS X Lion

Apple’s press invite includes an image of a lion, so it’s fairly obvious part of the event will provide a sneak peek on the next-gen Mac OS, code-named Lion. Our friends at MacStories received a tip that OS X will abandon the current aqua-based scroll bars in favor of iOS’s translucent gray scroll bar, which disappears whenever you’re not scrolling.

Also, a “Quick Look” feature will enable you to get a pop-up view with some details about a file that you select with the Spotlight search tool, according to MacStories.

That can’t be all there is to it. We’re guessing that OS Lion will introduce features such as instant-on capability, and some significant performance boosts for the entire Mac family.

Wired.com will report live from Apple headquarters Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. Pacific time. Stay tuned for the news.

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