All Articles Tagged Rumors

I’m not going to get off on another Rogers rant here. Suffice it to say, when it comes to Canadian telcos, I’m the rat who, having learned helplessness, now lies face down on the hot plate.

However, not content to let me lie there and wither in peace, now comes this report, determined to kick poor downed me with some hope:

Sources from inside Rogers claim that the device should be available the same month as an expected US release of an updated, 3G-capable model [...] currency values are likely to place the cost of the phone itself closer to the eventual US figure. [...] The sources claim that the iPhone will qualify for Rogers’ $7 on-device browsing plan, which currently allows all phones offered by Rogers (excepting BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices) to access the web as much as they like through the carrier’s officially-sanctioned browser. Whether Rogers will allow YouTube, the App Store, and other official but non-web devices to fall into the unlimited plan is unknown, though unlike with other phones Rogers will not have the choice of installing or customizing the web browser or other applications.

We’ll see (or more likely, we won’t see). The best indicator of future behavior being prior behavior, I figure the iPhone data plan will cost $100/month for 1GB. Prove me wrong, Rogers!

What do you think?

Read Via

Confession: I’m suffering from extreme PFSD (Posting about Flash Stress Disorder). All this “will it” “won’t it” “please don’t let it” blog-pong has me cowering beneath my laptop. But I believe in facing my fears, real and absurd, so let’s see what Ars Technica has to report:

Adobe has announced a new initiative called Open Screen, which aims to make the company’s Flash multimedia technology ubiquitous on mobile and embedded devices. Adobe plans to eliminate the licensing fees required to distribute its own Flash player and AIR runtime implementations on mobile devices and will also remove licensing restrictions on the specifications for the FLV and SWF formats so that developers can create fully-compatible independent Flash player implementations.

FLV is big. Previously, 3rd parties had fairly open access to the rendered SWF format, but not the source FLV (in Flash, you build in FLV and export “movies” in SWF). Now, while Adobe won’t be opening up the source to their own Flash kit, they will be removing restrictions against competitive (video player, plugin, etc.) implementations. In other words, Adobe isn’t giving away the keys to the Flash kingdom, but they’re letting developers build a little village just outside the gates.

“Open as in Microsoft” more than “open as in GNU/Linux” to be sure, but this does take steps to remove one of the greatest criticism levied against Flash on the web: proprietary technology lock-in. (Which is unlike HTML, CSS, and AJaX — open, standards based technologies, that no one company could suddenly demand huge payments for, roll-in unwanted “features” like DRM, or simply choose to shut down one day, leaving developers stranded).

This is no doubt Adobe’s motivation for their increasing openness. They want to drive even more developer adoption towards their Flex and Air platforms, stave off competition from Microsoft’s Silverlight technology (which, ironically, has been trying to compete with Flash by offering up unprecedented openness — from Microsoft!), and keep pace with HTML5’s video tag and CSS-based animation.

But what does this all mean for Flash on the iPhone?

A more open, accessible license may let Apple build their own implementation, one they’re more comfortable with, and one that fills that missing middle slot between Flash Lite and Flash (desktop) that Steve Jobs feigned interest in.

Or it may just let Adobe or some 3rd party unleash another Flashenstein Monster a la Sony Ericsson.

Personally, I’ll be stockpiling torches and pitchforks (soon as I can stop cowering, that is). What do you think?

Apple Insider brings word that Taiwan Economic News’s sources are claiming that:

“[The iPhone 3G] weighs only 110 to 120 grams versus its first generation cousin’s 158 grams. Much of the weight reduction is said to have come from a material swap that will see handset adopt a plastic casing instead of aluminum-magnesium one. In addition to weight advantage, the latest version is also more energy efficient and externally smarter. LCD screen on the phone measures 2.8 inches diagonally, a downsize from first generation`s 3.5 inches.”

We already covered that Foxxcon may be producing upwards of 25 million of Apple’s next generation handset, but this rumor seems to contradict Engadget’s insider who claimed we’d be seeing a fatter, not thinner iPhone, and would score one in Chad’s column (see the upcoming Phone Different Podcast #17 for background on the Dieter/Chad size throwdown).

And a 2.8″ screen? I know I was asking for something higher density than the current 160dpi — more along the lines of the Nano’s 202dpi — but I was hoping for more pixels, not just tighter. C’mon Apple, give me 720p already!

Besides, trying to type on a vertical soft keyboard that skinny? (And don’t even joke about virtual SureType! Yikes!!)

What do you think?

No, that’s not spring in the air, that’s the rumor frenzy ramp-up to Apple’s June World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC), and here’s the aptly titled MacRumors with a mother load:

A MacRumors reader ran across a very unusual .Mac web page yesterday and was kind enough to forward it on. The page contained promotional images for Apple products [...] including teasers for iTunes 8, a 32GB iPhone [in Australia!], and a WWDC launch date (June 10th).

Turns out, not so much. The images came courtesy of one of MacRumors own forum members (though MacRumors continues to maintain they were associated with a legit @apple.com account).

In general, a 32GB iPhone, at least for the current generation product, would require a 32GB NAND chip for the single slot (due to the cell radio and other components, unlike the iPod Touch which boasts 2 NAND slots, the iPhone only has room for 1 — hence iPod Touch always offering twice the memory). If true, it may explain the price cuts on the 8GB models. iTunes 8 would only require some boosted features (App Store support?) and Apple’s marketing desire to bump the rev a full number. Australia rumors have been building for a long time now, of course.

Also included were the first MacBook and MacBookPro case revs, going to aluminum and iMac-style black on aluminum respectively. (Both of which have also seen rampant rumor ramp ups — say that ten times fast!)

3G rumors will never die; just multiply!

Engadget’s been on the iPhone the last couple of days like Andy Ihnatko on Internet pants, and they show no signs of slowing down what with this latest 3G rumor:

Tgdaily is the one making waves today, claiming that we’ll see next-gen 8GB and 16GB iPhones debut at WWDC this June for $399 and $499, and that the iPod touch will always offer twice the storage at any given price point. The new units are said to feature revised casings that eliminate the current model’s “plasticky” feel…

TG Daily’s industry sources allegedly told them, but could not confirm, a 32GB model at $599 as well. Envious of all the Mac Book Air attention, iPhone 3G has also apparently crash-dieted to become 2.5mm thinner. Lastly, those hoping for a removable battery will apparently be disappointed as 3G will remain an inney, not an outey.

That the iPhone has one NAND slot to the iPod Touches 2 slots makes the latter bit pretty much a given (gotta but the cell radio somewhere!), and I don’t believe the iPod line has ever had user-switchable batteries, so likewise. Thinner is wicked obvious, though with increased battery demands may not make sense. Price points for the iPod line have also been semi-predictable, with the iPhone pretty much fitting in ever since the initial price-drop.

As to the date?

I’m still on the WWDC bandwagon for the announcement of 3G, with shipping to follow some time later (6 weeks earliest, Thanksgiving latest). Guess we’ll all have to wait and see, and if you haven’t already, head on over to our 3G Pool and pick your date!

Apple’s Thursday press release (via Ars Technica), while big on Enterprise and chock-full of SDK goodness, also snuck in some new, long sought-after features for one of the built-in apps: MobileMail (Mail Touch?).

In addition to these new iPhone network and security features, the beta iPhone 2.0 software provides several new Mail features such as the ability to view PowerPoint attachments, in addition to Word and Excel, as well as the ability to mass delete and move email messages.

But what about the other built-in apps like Calendar and Contacts?

Our own eagle-eyed Chad Garrett has already spotted a mysterious new icon on Calendar, and predicted we may indeed see Task integration (GTD’ers, put it on your to do’s!).

Now BlargKABOOM (via TUAW) has hauled out the iMicroscope and discovered yet another tantalizing new icon, this time in Contacts:

It is a little spotlight icon right above the A on the alphabet.

Does this mean we may just be getting search as well? If so, how will it be implemented, and will it be limited to contacts or (dare we hope?) system wide, SDK-level CoreSearch?

iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, YouTube, the Weather, Stock and other widgets, and MobileSafari Touch have all had search for a while now. C’mon Apple, share the love!

iLounge is reporting the possible leak, via iTunes, of what can only be termed an iPhone/iPod Touch “Fatty”. Turns out that the newfangled SDK led a curious developer to Education First Educational Tours “private page” (the tool that would, for example, allow an enterprise to make and release apps accessible only within their own company and not for sale to the general public). Revealed on this “private page” was the tantalizing/horrifying image of the “fatty” (or perhaps the long fabled iTablet Safari Pad?).

Is this just something Education First Educational Tours mocked up? A photo miss-shop? Phil Schiller brainstorming Apple rumors? Or a real leaked product shot (a la 3G Nano?) Only Steve Jobs, Rumor-Smasher, know for sure.

More on this as it develops…

Mac Rumors is reporting that the Apple Event, the one we were all hoping would bring the announcement of the SDK and end the omgnoappz saga, happened last night. It was Linkin Park playing a show at an Apple Store. They’re also reporting that the dearth of press invites bodes ill for a full-on press event for the launch of the SDK.

In other words, though we’ve heard that Apple is supposed to still be able to meet their self-imposed February deadline, things are starting to look bleak in terms of their being much more than just the release of the SDK. I hope I’m wrong and that I was wrong in my podcast prediction: that if Apple makes the deadline, we’ll just see an SDK released to developers and the iPhone update that allows for apps will take awhile longer.

(Also: Linkin Park is still around and popular? Hunh. I thought all they did was get stalked.)

Mike and I mentioned this in the podcast, briefly, and so here’s the full skinny. Apple has filed a patent for basically all the weird and wacky things you might want to do with a multitouch trackpad (of the kind found on the MacBook Air). Basically, the idea is you slap a certain number of fingers down to go into certain modes - 1 finger for standard stuff, 2 fingers for scrolling (plus some switching around for Exposé features), and so on.

The juicy one, though, is the “Thumb plus 2 fingers” section, which shows how you could switch from scrolling around to go into an “Edit” mode — one where you could select text, copy it, paste it, and so on. Exactly what the doctor ordered for the iPhone.

Also noted on the podcast, but I’ll repeat it here: Once Apple manages to add system-level select, cut, and paste to the iPhone, can document editing be far behind?

AppleInsider | Apple filing spills details of advanced multi-touch pads for Macs

Tiny Code (more on that mysterious link in a moment) pulled their apps off of installer.app, saying the following:

Tiny Code no longer produces fixes or applications for firmware 1.1.3. We can’t say much, but we are working with Apple and with their SDK for the next firmware release and SDK applications and we shouldn’t be missed for long. We will no longer update our Installer.app repo for legality reasons and you should see us soon on iTunes.

They said this at http://tiny-code.com, which if you visit you’ll note is now redirected at the iPhone Dev Center. This, it turns out, was something developer “Kelly” did in order to, well, stop the tsunami of questions that followed his statement. It also turns out Apple was none too pleased about the leaks in the above statement.

Leaks? Yep:

1. “shouldn’t be missed for long” sounds a lot like “that event that’s coming on February 26th“
2. “you should see us soon on iTunes” sounds a lot like “iTunes is definitely going to be the way that these apps get distributed, sold, and installed.”
3. Next to the statement above was “Now targeting fw 1.1.4 Alpha 2.” Oops.

Each of the three above “leaks” is a surprise to exactly nobody who’s been watching the iPhone news with any degree of attention lately, but nevertheless Apple did some hand-slapping, as Kelly explains in this MacRumors forum post

One: Yes, I have a copy of the Apple SDK for the iPhone targeting firmware 1.1.4. Two: Yes, Tiny-Code.com was ordered to be removed from operation by Apple, Inc because by releasing firmware versions and stating I had possession of the firmware and SDK was apparently a violation of the Non-Disclosure Agreement I agreed to when I accepted a copy of the SDK and firmware. Three: Yes I was wrist-slapped by Apple and won’t be included in any further firmware beta’s or testing/coding.

Yeouch.