Although we didn't expect an official announcement quite this soon, we have been aware for quite some time that Google was planning on bringing a collection of gift cards to certain retail outlets which would allow users to purchase virtual currency that can then be exchanged for goods and services from the Play Store. It hasn't really been a great secret that they were coming and we've already seen them out in the public eye as well as evidence of the cards in the Google Play Store app.
If there is one thing which iPhone fans out there don't really need is additional confirmation that the new iPhone will be introduced to us next month. Unless it comes from the horse’s mouth of course. Over the last few months, we have been treated to countless leaks of components and parts that form the sixth-generation device and also heard enough speculation about the September 12th announcement date to pretty much convince us all that it's going to happen on that day. All we really need is the official invites from Apple.
It wasn't that long ago when we brought you some information regarding Nikon possibly releasing a point-and-shoot camera that stepped away from the norm with the inclusion of the Android mobile operating system. It seemed like a rather unnecessary move for a company like Nikon to go down the route of producing hardware that contains Android, but with camera phones becoming increasingly more capable of capturing fantastic images on the move, it would seem that these companies need to do something to remain relevant.
If you are dicing with the idea of going out and purchasing the fabulous new Windows 8 operating system from Microsoft, then it could be worthwhile getting on board with it earlier rather than later. Microsoft is planning on offering the Windows 8 Pro version at an initial promotional price point of $69.99 for early adopters, with the price finally increasing to $199 when that promotion comes to an end on January 31st 2013.
Rumors and reports of a smaller, more portable iPad have been in the air since 2010, but their frequency has increased significantly this year thanks to the success of smaller, cheaper tablets like the Amazon Kindle Fire and Google Nexus 7.
We aren't really sure what Apple has in store for us in regards to the naming convention for their next-generation iPhone. It could be the iPhone 5, although that doesn't really make any sense considering it's the sixth-generation of their smartphone. It could follow the route which Apple took with the current iPad model and just called it The New iPad, or it could be something totally different altogether which we aren’t aware of. Regardless of what it's called, the bottom line is the interest in the device is currently at unprecedented levels that have pushed Apple's market capitalization value to the highest of all time, making them the most valuable company in history. Not bad.
Microsoft today has started taking registrations for Windows 8 upgrade program for existing Windows 7 users. The program, which is available in 140 countries, lets you upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for as low as $14.99, provided that you meet the required criteria for the upgrade.
It would take a brave man to try and attempt to predict when Apple's stock will stop rising and eventually find its limit. The share price has continued to rise and rise over recent months and the intense speculation surrounding the new iPhone and any other possible hardware releases next month obviously have played their part with the share price rising by a total of 8 percent so far this month, with 2.3 percent rise today alone in afternoon trading.
One Apple authorized repair company has married two separate iPhone 5 parts leaks, potentially giving us an insight into what we will all be drooling over next month.
As we approach the final quarter of the year and get ever closer to the holiday shopping season, we are bracing ourselves for the release of some hardware from Apple and although most of the speculation has been lavished onto what the Cupertino giants will bring with their new iPhone, it's worth remembering that not every Apple device fan immediately goes out to grab the latest smartphone model with some preferring to let the fruit company handle their personal music needs instead.
