The upcoming iOS 7 has been making hype; much has been observed in the past few weeks. It was being stated because of so many features receiving an overhaul, Apple might postpone the release of the next gen operating system!

For those who might be a bit worried over this potential delay, you might want to rest easy because according to anonymous informants who tipped off the folks at AllThingsD, it seems that the latest update to the OS will be on time and that there will be no delay.

The report has suggested that team members from the other software divisions at Apple have been gathered to help speed up the process of getting iOS 7 ready on time, similar to what they did back in 2007 when members from OS X 10.5 Leopard were tasked to help the iPhone team get the device and operating system ready for its launch.

As expected, iOS 7 is set to make its debut at WWDC which will be taking place next month. A release date for the operating system remains unknown, although if Apple were to keep to their tradition, the update would be released around the same time as the next-gen iPhone.

To tune you with the previous updates over the iOS 7 release, it was expected that its UI will be receiving a flatter look, rather than maintaining the realistic images which was favored by previous head of iOS, Scott Forstall, before he left the company. Bloomberg goes on to state that the calendar and mail apps could be receiving dramatic changes, although they will be introduced at a later date, and that head of iOS, Jony Ive, has also met up with the makers of gesture technology to discuss how more gesture features could be added to the software.

Stay tuned!

The improvised iOS 7 concept(0)

The dates for the WWDC this year were recently disclosed by Apple. Out there, they are expected to give an in-depth look at the next version of iOS as well as OS X. There have been some great iOS 7 concepts revealed in the past, one of which reimagines the lock screen, text messaging and more, but a new concept has caught our attention today for what is being imagined for some of iOS’ most notable apps.

The iOS 7 concept revolves around a re-imagined Clock, Voice Memo, Weather and Calculator app. Some of the improvements look to be a simple change in the app’s overall color scheme, but the concept for the Contacts app is a must to check. Being able to see attached photos of your contacts straight from the start of the Contacts app will certainly help in recognizing a person, especially if you have a long list of names.

Stay tuned!

iPhone 5S Specs Revealed – Featuring 12 Megapixel Camera & Much More(0)

iPhone 5S Said to Feature 12-Megapixel Rear Camera, With Improved HDR and Night Shooting

While we’ve heard a lot about Apple’s next-gen iPhone, one of the details we haven’t heard much about so far is the device’s camera. A new report from Tinhte.vn (via MacRumors) claims to have details about the camera in the “iPhone 5S,” suggesting that it will feature a 12-megapixel sensor, as well as significantly improved low light and night time shooting.

MacRumors points out an interesting tidbit about this particular rumor that could improve its credibility – the claim originates “from a source at Wonderful Saigon Electrics in Binh Duong, which specializes in providing camera modules for the iPhone.” Despite the fact that Tinhte.vndoesn’t have much of a track record, that detail alone makes this rumor far more interesting and worth noting.

It’s hardly surprising that the iPhone 5S would include an improved camera – Apple has typically improved both camera hardware and features with each successive model of the iPhone. Not updating the camera hardware would be more of a shocker. The report follows a previous claim from the very well-sourced Rene Ritchie of iMore that the device could include such a camera sensor. A previous report from iLounge suggested a possible 13-megapixel camera for the device.

Whether or not this information is accurate, or actually does come from Wonderful Saigon Electrics, it’s almost obvious enough to be considered highly likely at any rate – of course, we’ll have to wait and see what Apple unveils to find out for sure!

An iPhone 5 worth $15 million!(0)

A device like this always gives us answers to questions like what do the rich do with their endless money? Well if you happen to know someone like that, here’s a way they could easily spend $15 million on an iPhone 5 worth much less.

Embossed with diamonds all over the body of the iPhone 5, and sporting a 26 carat black diamond home button, a businessman from Hong Kong had it customized. The rest of the phone is encrusted by 600 white diamonds and is made by British designer Stuart Hughes.

The perception of how the phone looks for real is something we will leave for our readers to imagine and understand. We would definitely add though that the businessman who ordered it has his family background from that of black diamonds. He maybe extending his affection for diamonds by having them studded in an iPhone 5 worth so much! Certainly a good handset to choose though.

Stay tuned!

Apple Devices Set to Outsell Windows-Based Devices for the First Time Ever in 2013(0)

The rivalry between Apple and Microsoft has been one of the deepest and longest-lasting corporate rivalries of the consumer electronics industry – and up until now, Microsoft has dominated Apple in the number of Microsoft-based devices sold versus the number of Apple devices sold. According to research firm Gartner, however, that’s about to change.

The Financial Times, citing Gartner’s report (via BGR):

Consumers will buy more Apple devices than PCs, tablets and smartphones running Windows for the first time this year, analysts predict, underlining the urgency of the threat to Microsoft’s platform dominance in the shift from desktop to mobile.

Gartner, the market research group, forecast in a report released on Thursday that sales of tablets would overtake traditional desktops and laptops by 2015, while other analysts have predicted the shift could come even sooner.

Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets have long been considered the future of computing and a new projection from market research firm Gartner shows just how important the mobile market has become. According to the firm’s estimates for 2013, Apple(AAPL) devices will outsell Windows devices for the first time this year. The estimate takes into account sales of Apple’s iPhones, iPads and Mac computers as well as desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones powered by Microsoft’s (MSFT) various Windows operating systems. In 2012, Windows device sales totalled 175 million units while combined sales of iOS devices and Mac PCs reached 159 million. As The Financial Times noted, Gartner also projected that tablet sales will overtake traditional PC sales by 2015.

That’s a pretty significant achievement for Apple. For more information, including specific figures, analysis of the tablet market vs. the PC market, and more, check out the original report over at Gartner.

WSJ: Next-Gen iPhone Production to Begin This Quarter, iPhone 5S and “Budget” iPhone Set for Mid-2013 Launch(0)

WSJ fully updated with Apple Rumors

As rumors about Apple’s next-gen iPhone continue to buzz like a busy beehive, The Wall Street Journal has issued a new report stating that Apple will begin production for their next iPhone during the current quarter, and that the device could launch as early as this summer. The report also backs up rumors that Apple will be launching a less expensive version of the iPhone, which will also launch this year.

WSJ:

Apple Inc. plans to begin production of a refreshed iPhone similar in size and shape to its current one in the second quarter of the year, according to people familiar with the device’s production, teeing up a possible summer launch for the next version of its flagship device.

At the same time, Apple continues to work with its manufacturing partners in Asia on a less expensive iPhone that could be launched as soon as the second half of this year, these people said. The four-inch device will likely use a different casing from the higher-end iPhone. Apple has been working on different color shells for the phone but its plans remain unclear.

The next-gen iPhone will reportedly be similar in size and share to the current iPhone 5, as expected due to Apple’s tendency to launch major new designs only every other update. The budget iPhone will also reportedly feature a four-inch screen, although it will use a different casing than the higher-end iPhone. It also may come in multiple colors.

While The Wall Street Journal’s latest report doesn’t provide any new information about Apple’s next-gen iPhone, it does back up many previous reports claiming a mid-2013 release for the next iPhone, as well as backing up claims that Apple is considering multiple color options for their budget-level iPhone.

A June or July release for Apple’s latest iPhone hardware is looking more and more likely…

Apple plans to Triple its Reseller Network in India by 2015(0)

Apple is planning to triple the size of its reseller network in India by 2015. Franchisees in the country say they have been asked to scale up operations, as Apple is planning aggressive growth there, with plans to grow to 200 stores.

The Economic Times, via MacRumors:

In addition to increasing the number of Apple exclusive stores, called Apple Premium Resellers, that are owned and managed by 17 franchisees, the company also plans to expand its presence in multi-brand stores, they said.

Some of these plans are said to have been discussed during last month’s Mumbai visit of Hugeues Asseman, Apple’s vicepresident (sales) for Europe, Middle-East, India, and Africa. Asseman met key trade partners and franchisee owners to take stock of the company’s India business and to outline the company’s expansion plans.

Earlier this year, we reported that Apple’s aggressive approach to the Indian market had resulted in a 400% sales increase, after Apple had begun an ”extensive advertising and marketing campaign” for their iPhone.

Today’s report also notes that Apple has been unable to open its own retail stores in the country, as Indian regulators require single brand stores such as the Apple Store to source 30% of their products from within the country. Currently the Cupertino firm does not manufacture any of its products in India.

Apple is asking franchisees to upgrade their stores to global specifications, including design, and layout. The outlets will include a lot of glass decor, just like Apple’s company-owned stores in the U.S. The cost of remodeling is expected to be more than Rs 1 crore per location, and the company will reimburse the franchisee owners over a year.

AT&T to Launch ‘HD Voice’ Support for iPhone 5 This Year(0)

Alongside T-Mobile’s announcement that they will finally begin offering the iPhone with their new no-contract plans, T-Mobile also became the first U.S. carrier to support the iPhone 5′s new HD Voice feature (wideband audio). HD Voice provides significantly improved voice calling and in-call audio quality (despite the fact that Apple announced the feature for the iPhone many months ago).

HD Voice requires support not only in a phone’s hardware, but from the carrier network as well. Not wanting to be left out of the game, AT&T has announced that they are planning to launch HD Voice support later this year as well.

AllThingsD reports:

Speaking on Monday, AT&T senior VP Kris Rinne said that the carrier will roll-out its own support for the technology later this year as it begins to route voice calling over its LTE network.

“HD Voice is part of our voice over LTE strategy,” Rinne said, speaking at th VentureBeat Mobile Summit in Sausalito, Calif. Sprint has also talked about its plans for HD Voice.

Call quality has been an issue for AT&T iPhone users since day one – especially in the early days when AT&T was the exclusive carrier of the iPhone. HD Voice should help the carrier improve call quality across the board – something which users should be very grateful for indeed. AT&T is planning to unveil a new “Advanced LTE” technology as well, which should also improve the overall quality of their network for newer devices.

HD Voice Support Comes to i5

It’s good news for AT&T users to be sure – but the question remains: What took them so long to support a feature that Apple rolled out clear back in October? In their defense, wideband audio has been around for ages – Apple’s decision to bring it to the iPhone is simply bringing it into the spotlight.

To get a better idea of what HD voice is, and how it can improve audio quality, check out the below video from YouTube user Martin Stanford.

Apple’s Next Two iPhones Reportedly ‘Already Designed’ Under Steve Jobs’ Supervision(0)

Those of you that may be concerned about the future of the iPhone now that Steve Jobs is no longer at the helm may yet have something to look forward to. According to San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón, Apple’s next two iPhones were already designed under Steve Jobs’ watchful eye before Tim Cook took control as Apple’s CEO. According to Gascón, he received confirmation directly from Apple’s government liaison, Michael Foulkes.

“It was very underwhelming,” Gascón said about the hourlong talk with Apple’s government liaison,. “He did most of the talking. It was incredible. He would just go on and on, one subject to the next. It was hard to follow. It was almost like someone who’s been trained in the art of doing a lot of talking and saying nothing.” representatives, noting that the designs “preceded Tim Cook”.

From the San Francisco Examiner (via MacRumors), citing Gascón’s comments concerning the prevention of mobile device theft:

Gascón said Foulkes discussed the long and laborious process of researching and producing a kill-switch technology for devices, and also said the next two generations of iPhones have already been developed.

“They preceded Tim Cook,” the district attorney said he was told of the future iPhones.

Gascón said he doesn’t need to see the technology in the next iPhone, but simply wants a plan in place. He said industry insiders have told him the technology is possible.

If true, the claim would hardly be surprising. Steve Jobs was known for his obsessive attention to details, and has often been said to design products well in advance of their release. Previous reports have suggested that Steve Jobs planned out the next four years of Apple products before he passed away in October of 2011.

Other than the claim about future iPhone models, however, Gascón said his discussion with Foulkes was somewhat disappointing: “It was very underwhelming. He did most of the talking. It was incredible. He would just go on and on, one subject to the next. It was hard to follow. It was almost like someone who’s been trained in the art of doing a lot of talking and saying nothing.”

Even after bribing the Judge – Samsung loses to Apple in UK(0)

While Apple has the upper hand in the case of patent infringement in the US, where the Company has sued Samsung for damages, on the other hand Samsung had alleged in the UK that Apple had used its patents in the country. Sadly they could not make the charges stand in the court.

According to reports, Samsung had filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple in UK for three patents relating to the processing and transmitting of 3G data. When the case came up for hearing in a UK court, Apple was exonerated on each of three claims filed.

This decision in favour of Apple was definitely not appreciated by Samsung and said it would review the judgement to decide whether to file an appeal, as the ruling was too disappointing.

In just the most recent suit among many between the two companies, Samsung alleges that its 3G patents were being used by Apple without proper compensation. Last year the European Commission and U.S. Justice Department began investigating Samsung on using its patents against competitors, patents that are covered under fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. As with most cases regarding FRAND, courts have thrown out cases or have ruled against the patent holders claiming FRAND terms cover appropriate compensation for standard-essential patents, nothing more.

Samsung isn’t the only company that has been caught up in FRAND controversy Google, through its acquisition of Motorola Mobility, has tried to garner more favorable terms against competitors by demanding more for its essential patents.

Apple which on the other hand is persistently following its patent infringement case against Samsung in the US claims that it would keep fighting and ask Samsung for the damages caused to the company. Also Nokia has now decided to support Apple in the patent wars.

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iPhone 5S Said to Feature 12-Megapixel Rear Camera, With Improved HDR and Night Shooting

WSJ fully updated with Apple Rumors

HD Voice Support Comes to i5

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