Rumors of a new apple device! What is it?!

Ok Apple so you bought us 2 new iPhones. That’s pretty cool. But that was, like, days ago. It’s getting kind of….borrrrring…

Oh, wait what’s that? Rumors of another new Apple device?  Oh, ok! You got us!

NEW DEVICE RUMORS! It’s a bit of a controversial one, actually. We know, Apple controversial? Never! Well, this one might cop some wrath form within the Apple community as well as outside of it and in those scary tech forums.

It’s a…. really big iPad.

Poor MaxiPad. It’ll kinda be like North West (Kanye’s kid), never even having a chance with the bullies.

Rumors about the larger iPad have actually been going on quietly for the past 6 months, but yesterday Chinese site United Daily News, the Wall Street Journal, and Aussie Sonny Dickson all released leaks and addressed rumors that a bigger iPad is in the works for Apple, and that Quanta Computer are the people who are manufacturing it.

The iPad would supposedly be Space Grey, and the size differs slightly between reports from 12 – 13 inches diagonally, but it would be similar in size to the MacBook Air, leaving some fans ( and critics) to ask, why not just make a touchscreen MacBook Air?

Well, just cos, is why. Also, a much better answer would be that we think that Tim Cook et al like the slimline portability of the iPad, but want to give a little bit extra working space for people, especially in industries such as graphic design, gaming, music etc.

Apple is expected to announce the 5th Gen iPad and a new iPad mini with retina display come October/November, but this bad boy is thought to be announced early next year. There are some who have stated that the larger iPad may not even come to fruition.

What do you guys think, bigger iPad, YAY or NAY?

Images courtesy of  up-ship.com, unitedcats.com, Macrumors & Sonny Dickson.

Apple vs Samsung Update

For those who have been enjoying the life of those who live under rocks, Apple and Samsung have been very unhappy with each other over the last little while. They have expressed this unhappiness through the law, as you do.

They have both basically been going back and forth calling each other big cheaters and copiers and tattle tales  over their technology patents being infringed upon.

This has been going on for a while, but this time, Apple has lost. The United States International Trade Commission are the people in charge, and they have just overturned a previous judgment from last year, which had ruled in Apple’s favor.

They are now saying that, yes, Apple did infringe on some of Samsung’s patents, specifically to do with their 3G technology, and have henceforth banned some of Apple’s products from being imported into the States.

What does this mean iPhone Antidote?

Well, at the moment it means that the following AT&T products are banned from US imports and sales; iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 3G, and iPad 2 3G.

This doesn’t mean anything if you have any of those models currently, or are planning on buying a used model. It also doesn’t affect Apple very much to be honest, because those products are specific to AT&T and are all old models.

What it does do is pee Apple off, and worsen the relationship between the two biggest smartphone providers. Yaaaay?

Apple will be appealing, with the defense that Samsung made these patents available for use under FRAND terms. FRAND = Fair, Reasonable and Non Discriminatory. This is used to cover technology that is a standard and is meant to prevent litigation like this, and it seems to have been ignored by the ITC in their ruling.

Hey, guys, why can’t we just get to the part where we’re all friends and making super awesome blow our minds technology? Huh?

Image courtesy of applerumors.it

Tablets taking over the world?

Tablets are predicted to overtake notebooks this year in sales, and projected to overtake sales of PC’s and notebooks combined by 2015, making tablets pretty much the king of the computer castle.

This is according to research firm IDC who released the figures in the last week, saying that tablets are expected to grow 59% this year, shipping 229 million units compared to a measly 144.5 million last year.

Although tablets have been around for a long time, their recent popularity is thanks to the Apple iPad, but the current growth is due to the proliferation of cheaper Android tablets and the role of Apple pushing for tablet use in education.

Here is a graph:

Pretty impressive, tablets. Anyone would think you had an evil plot to take over the world…or something.

Of course, these numbers don’t account for the mini computers we call phones, or any super awesome blow your mind technology that will be released between now and then, and it certainly doesn’t render the personal computer sector obsolete. Take that, tablets.

Now, when we start to get tablets that are flexible, have holographic keyboards, floating capabilities ( so you don’t have to carry them, d’uh), and an included wormhole for teleporting, then maybe tablets will be ready to take over the world.

p.s I love you iPad.

Photo courtesy of crowdcare.com