By Gilbert Falso :: 12:18 AM
Last week, iPhone case and technology accessory company Case-Mate briefly leaked renderings of a new line of cases for Apple’s iPhone 5, which has not yet been announced.
Case-Mate’s website had graphics that showed the iPhone 5, which appeared to have a very similar design to the current iPad and iPod Touch models, boasting a rounded-corner aluminum backing.
The company noticed it’s mistake pretty quickly, and replaced the iPhone 5 case page with a form where users could sign up to receive notification on when they could purchase new cases for the next generation smartphone. Case-Mate does not appear to have issued any statement to the media regarding the mistake.
It is widely expected that Apple will officially announce the iPhone 5 later this month, with a company launch set for the middle of October. Along with the new model launch, Apple is also expected to debut a lower-cost version of the current iPhone 4 with minor design tweaks made to it.
By Gilbert Falso :: 9:58 PM
The Samsung Galaxy S II, which was released to the marketplace for sale Friday through Sprint, may be the cream of the crop when it comes to smartphones running Google’s Android operating system. How good is it? Many analysts consider it to be the greatest threat to Apple’s iPhone 4. In fact, Apple is suing Samsung in an attempt to block the Galaxy S II from store shelves, under allegations of patent infringement.
The Galaxy S II’s biggest competitor in the Android world is the Motorola Droid Bionic, according to the LA Times Technology blog. The Droid Bionic sells for $300 – $100 more than the Galaxy S II, and while the Droid is limited to Verizon’s network, the Galaxy S II will not only have Sprint, but will soon launch on both T-Mobile and AT&T’s networks.
Both the Bionic and the Galaxy are outfitted with similar technology: dual-core processors, 16 gigabytes of storage, 8-megapixel cameras and large touchscreen displays.
By Paul Thomson :: 2:01 PM
The rumors that we could see an iPad 3 by year’s end, in time for Christmas, are most likely false. According to an analyst with JP Morgan, while prototype working iPad 3 models are in circulation within Apple and its suppliers, the company is not rushing to get the gizmo produced and out the door.
Part of the slowness in release date, aside from Apple sticking to their regular release schedule, is that there has yet to be a viable alternative to the iPad 2 in the current tablet market. Apple is really facing no competition right now.
Recent tablet offerings from RIM and Motorola have been lackluster and have failed to move consumer sentiment and demand away from Apple’s flagship tablet. As other tablet makers falter in the same way, Apple has a good hold on the market to carry them well into 2012 and release the iPad 3 sometime in the early to middle part of the year.
The only possible competitor could be new tablet offerings from Sony – and while they have enjoyed some good early press (including ours), all bets are off on how the marketplace reacts when they come out. One thing holding everything back is the lack of iOS. Android’s operating system, when it comes down to it, while a good one, has a very hard time up against Apple’s iOS.
So, if you were expecting a shiny new iPad 3 wrapped up under that Christmas tree this year, sorry – Santa is going to have to wait for them just like the rest of us.
By Gilbert Falso :: 1:42 AM
Facebook has changed the way that official pages can contact their fans. In an announcement posted on the “Resources” tab of the page management screen, Facebook says that, “as of September 30th you’ll no longer be able to send updates to fans using Facebook Messages. The best way to make sure your content is seen is to post it on your Wall so people see your updates in their news feed.”
This move is obviously a way to drive page owners to use Facebook’s advertising platform, as advertisers with pages can direct their ads to display to people who “like” their page. Although page owners may feel slighted by this move, in reality, using the messaging feature was not a good communications tool, as messages from pages was automatically directed into users’ “other” folders on the Facebook messaging platform.
The announcement from Facebook says that messaging will disappear on September 30, but an informal poll of a handful of page owners shows that the feature has already been removed. It is possible that this is something Facebook is taking away slowly, with the goal of being completely removed by the end of the month.
By Dan Thomilson :: 11:58 PM
Sony’s new foray into tablet computing comes in the form of the Sony Tablet S, and this piece of technology could seriously give Apple’s iPad a run for its money.
Sony’s tablet runs Google’s Android operating system, and will cost about the same as a Wi-Fi iPads—$500 for a 16 gigabyte model and $600 for a 32 gigabyte model. And the price is about the only thing it has in common with the iPad – or any other comparable tablet on the market today.
The design of the Tablet S is what really sets it apart. One of the sides of its rectangular, frame has a thicker, rounded edge that makes the device resemble a folded magazine. While this makes it thicker than most competitors, it also gives Sony several advantages. When held vertically, the tablet is more balanced and easier to hold – and also when laid on a flat surface, this rounded edge provides a natural lifted angle for easier typing.
Sony is also working on a more cutting edge offering for later this year, called the Sony Tablet P. It will be smaller and lighter than the S, and will unfold to reveal two 5 1/2-inch separate displays that can either be used as a large screen or can display separate content on each.
Sony’s Tablet P