With the recent announcement of the Microsoft Surface, the tablet market is starting to heat up a little bit with the Surface representing what could be classed as the first real iPad competitor. Until the official price point, full specifications and release strategy for the Redmond company's latest hardware is revealed, it will be difficult to truly gauge whether or not Apple should be concerned, but, it at least represents a true test of the iPad’s market dominance.
Following the news surrounding Apple's proposed nano-SIM format - which is essentially a mico-SIM stripped of all unnecessary "bevel" plastic - it appears that European mobile carriers are preparing for the launch of the next-generation iPhone by stockpiling on nano-SIMs. Given that the standard was proposed by Apple (while they aren't named exactly, it's evident that the approved design is at least heavily based on their proposal) - and subsequently approved by ETSI (the European Telecommunications Standards Institute) - it's fairly safe to assume that they will be using it in their next-generation iPhone.
With iOS 6 beta 3 having just been seeded to developers, details within the changelog concerning the domain names of email addresses are are just beginning to become apparent, and those with a .me account should be aware that the transition to iCloud.com is now underway.
As well as acquainting herself with many an iPhone 4S user over the past nine months, Siri has yielded much additional airtime as the stare of many a parody video. Whether it's been in solving a domestic argument or testing the sensibilities of a rather irate Scotsman, Siri has starred in all manner of viral clips.
As 9to5Mac speculates, Apple could finally launch OS X Mountain Lion (10.8) on July 25th, the justification behind the guesstimate being the planned overnight updates occurring at Apple Retail stores on July 24th. During this update period, staff would assemble various marketing information such as posters, while also installing the brand new operating system on each and every Mac within a store. Given Apple has already confirmed OS X Mountain Lion would arrive later this month in a $19.99 upgrade over at the Mac App Store, the 25th would seem as legitimate a date as any, but although 9to5Mac seems fairly sure, reiterated that it is more knowledge-based estimation than unofficial confirmation.
The next iPhone, naturally, has been a hot topic of debate in the blogosphere over the past couple of months, and with reports indicating the device - unofficially dubbed the "iPhone 5" - is currently being manufactured over in China, a new leak of the front panel has just surfaced over at Apple.Pro.
Japanese blog Macotakara reports the next-gen iPhone is now in production over in China, with the device expected to launch this fall. As has been the case with most of Macotakara's reports, this one cites "reliable Chinese sources", and if true, would seem to corroborate the notion that the sixth installment to the iPhone series will launch in September / October.
When I shifted to the iPhone from a Samsung Galaxy S II, one of the things I liked instantly was its iMessage service. As a matter of fact, much of communication between the people working at Redmond Pie takes place through iMessage. We like it for its instantaneousness and security.
As avid followers of the mobile industry here at Redmond Pie, we've grown used to seeing how casually Apple dishes out lawsuits to competitors, berating patent infringement here and there, and our favorite: blatant plagiarism. Of course, it's not all one way traffic, and the likes of Samsung and HTC have dealt with their fair share of suits from Cupertino, California; but these seem more in retaliation than anything, and it does appear Apple's rivals will do anything to avoid the fruit company's wrath.
The rampant "iPad Mini" rumors have taken a slight recess in the past couple of days, making way for more talk of the next iPhone, which is expected to ship within the next few months. The rumor mill has been indicating a longer form factor, larger screen, smaller dock connector, modified speaker grills, and a repositioned headphone jack, and the so-called "exclusive" leak by KitGuru appears to suggest those changes will be implemented.
