The Shape of the iPhone 5?

New cases allegedly created for the iPhone 5 have appeared, supporting the idea that the next-generation phone would sport the same form factor as the iPhone 4.

These claims are also supported by these engineering sketches found last week. The sketches show that the phone will be identical, but with a larger edge-to-edge screen, in both directions.

Some rather solid looking rumours starting to come out now!

iOS 5 as Early as April?

Rumours abound today, as German site Macerkopf.de claims that Apple will unveil the new version of iOS at the beginning of April.
They also say that the company will show off a new MobileMe.
The $99 per annum service could potentially become free if plans were to go ahead, as well as  possible further integration with the OS if it is to be included in the event. The service may rely on self-storage at home rather than data being held in Apple-based servers. Further evidence is that Apple also discontinued sales of the boxed retail versions of MobileMe last month..


Apple's iOS event was held in April last year, leading us to believe an impending event seems likely. Another rumour is that the new new update would include improved voice navigation support, rendering your pretty touch screen a little more pointless..


If this is all to be true, it could be a busy couple of months for Apple, as we'll also be expecting their iPhone event around the end of June.


Macerkopf via AppleInsider

Planes Flown By iPads?

Well, not quite.

But according to Bloomberg, commercial airlines could start using the Boeing app by this Summer to control where their planes go.

Some smaller planes are already using iPad apps instead of traditional paper maps, so this is just a step forward.

And YES, they're [Jeppesen] working on an Android version for all you Apple-haters, which should be out this year. ;] But if you are one, you're on the wrong blog..

Solid-State-Drives for Macbook Pros?

The new thunderbolt-equipped Macbook Pros I talked about last week have a little secret.


They are shipping with Mac OS 10.6.6, which supplies TRIM support for bundled Apple Solid State Drives.


What does that you mean, you may ask?


It means we should prepare for some super-fast Macbook Pros. ;]


Apple Insider

Last minute Rumours Correct!!

So the iPad 2 is now officially announced!! And it turns out those guys at DGtle were 100% correct!!
However Amazon Germany were apparently just kicking up a fuss..


Here it is.

Sadly now, as it would turn out I do not have a lot to say about the device, as it was all said two days ago.


It will be launched March 11th in the US, and March 25th to us Brits and most other countries, costing the same price as the previous generation.
Here's the spec; it's the same size as the previous iPad, weighs 0.2 pounds less [i hate it when they mix metric and imperial measurements] from 1.5 pounds to 1.3 and apparently "when you get down to single pounds, it really makes a difference, this thing basically floats". Well that's what Job's says anyways.

It has the same 9.7 inch screen, NOT RETINA DISPLAY as I'm sure they're waiting for iPad 3 for that one.. ;] Inside is the new Apple A5 chip that is dual-core, twice as powerful, and with nine times the graphics capabilities, whilst keeping the same low power usage, allowing for a grand 10-hour battery life.


And did I mention the cameras? Oh yes there's two, as to be expected I'm sure. The back one capable of 720p recording at 30fps. The front one..... not so much.. Facetime I guess.
And it's got a Gyroscope too..

You'll also be able to video out through 1080p HDMI to your TV with a cable that's "just $39". And yes, there are black bars down the side on your TV. It doesn't fix that.


Also available will be the new "case" for it that does very little to protect anything except the screen, because it sticks on with magnets. It is very cool though. That's also only $39, with leather ones for £79. If numbers could be in caps, this would be a good time..


And of course what would be the point of cameras if it didn't have every hard-working person's least-favourite app, Photo Booth. There's that too.

And finally, you'll be able to get iMovie and GarageBand for the device, for serious editing and the like. "These things aren't toys", said Job's.


This is pretty much everything announced in the 70 minute keynote, I would guess they're saving the amazing stuff for the iPad 3, the rest was mostly statistics and me falling asleep. Thank you very much.

Last minute iPad 2 Rumours!!

I regret I may not be able to post about the imminent launch of the iPad 2 this evening at 6pm GMT until tomorrow, therefore I shall share with you some last minute rumours from Chinese tech site DGtle.
After all, it's never too late for rumours, even if it is only 3 1/2 hours till confirmation...

As you can see, the device also has a new speaker grill on the back, along with a new form-factor.
This seems odd to me, if you remember, the original iPhone had this shape, and then they squared it off for the 4. Whereas the iPod touch was squarer, until they curved the back panel. It's like they don't want their devices to match!

The device would also be A LOT thinner, judging by the above picture, which can only lead one to believe it'd be lighter too...

Along with these shots, Amazon Germany earlier today placed an iPad 2 listing on the site which has now been removed, stating the device will have a 9.7 inch screen, 1.2GHz dual-core processor and reportedly the newly created Thunderbolt port! I for one see no Thunderbolt port, so is Amazon lying? Or are these screens incredibly well made fakes? We'll have to find out at 6pm!

Source and for more screens: DGtle