The mostly accurate Digitimes is reporting (citing the usual supply chain sources) that Apple is in the process of prepping for a 2012 release of complete overhauls for four of their major product lines– iPhone, iPad, iMac, and MacBook Air.

When it comes to an iPhone, it’s clear most rumors and hints point towards a redesign resembling that thinner, possibly tapered, teardrop design that many were referring to as the iPhone 5 prior to the iPhone 4S launch.

However, the report doesn’t offer any details as to what the the “overhaul” may entail. Of course, there is some doubt of the 2012 release window with the iPhone 4S launching to such positive reviews and incredible Keep Reading

When Square originally debuted its mobile payment solution, it just consisted of a card reader peripheral for iPhones and iPads that allowed merchants to swipe a customers credit card at checkout.

Then, back in August, Square launched its Card Case app for iOS that allowed customers to store their credit and debit cards in the app, allowing them to bypass the need of carrying their physical credit cards and giving them the ability to interact with the app, create a connection with the merchant’s app, and make a payment with the stored card data Keep Reading

Mobile game developer Rovio shared some pretty impressive statistics regarding their enormously popular Angry Birds franchise today. First off, the company announced 500 million total downloads across “various platforms”, claiming to be “one of the most downloaded games in the history of gaming”. Which must include all platforms — iOS, Android, Chrome, PC, Mac, etc.

To celebrate the occasion, Rovio released the video below sharing some of the incredible statistics over the relatively short time the game has been released. Keep Reading

With the recent launch of Apple’s iPhone 4S, the artificially intelligent personal assistant Siri has been getting all the love from those who think voice-control is the way the future for navigation.

Not so fast says Corey Thomas, who just posted the video below to Vimeo showing his latest voice-control project using Kinect…and a little help from Portal’s GLaDOS.

Siri already got a GLaDOS concept video, but this thing is the real deal. In the video we see Corey controlling his PC with his voice Keep Reading

Previously only available on iPad, Apple has updated their GarageBand mobile app ($4.99) to be a universal iOS app compatible on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.

The amateur digital audio workstation is a scaled-back version of the desktop app that has shipped with Mac OS X (now as part of iLife 11) for years and is typically considered the beginner’s version of Apple’s professional DAW, Logic Studio.

On top of slightly more compact Keep Reading

Written By Jordan Kahn

Just when we thought Apple’s only real competitor in the tablet market was Samsung, Amazon upgraded their Kindle product lineup to include the 7-inch Android-powered Kindle Fire. Now, not to be left out, Barnes & Noble is expected to introduce a new version of their Nook reader after sending out invitations for a “very special announcement” in NYC on November 7th.

If you’re not familiar with the current Nook devices, Barnes & Noble currently have two models (pictured below).

The first is the 7-inch color touchscreen Nook Color that’s pretty much taken a backseat to Keep Reading

Written By Jordan Kahn

We knew it was coming when we reported earlier this month that Tapjoy and MachineWorks had plans to drop a Duke Nukem 3D port on Android “very soon.”

Today the title has officially landed on the Android Market and it comes with a $0.99 price tag, not the $3 the iOS version originally debuted for.

Included in the Android port is support for tablets (it lists the Xoom), new “drag to look” controls, and Episode 2 and 3 available via Google In App Billing. The title will also install directly to SD by default. While the press reviews listed by the devs on the Market seem to be positive, user reviews aren’t as kind… Keep Reading

With all of the HSPA+ devices being branded “4G” these days you’d think AT&T already had LTE-capable devices. The truth is they are just gearing up to launch the first two smartphones that take advantage of their 4G LTE network with the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket and HTC Vivid. Both devices will be available starting November 6th.

The HTC Vivid has a 960 x 540 4.5-inch qHD display, 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 8MP camera (f2.2 28mm wide angle lens), 1080p HD video recording (60 frames per second), and 16GB of on-board storage expandable to 32GB via microSD. This device will Keep Reading

Written By Jordan Kahn

Korean smartphone manufacturer Pantech has never had the brand recognition of companies like Samsung and Apple in the US smartphone market. However, you may want to take a second look at their new Vega LTE device, which other than sporting some surprisingly impressive specs, also includes touch-free gestures.

Imagine waving your hand in front of the device’s built-in camera to perform Kinect-like gestures without actually touching the screen. These gestures won’t necessarily be used as the primary navigation method, but could be used for tasks like answering calls and playing music. The video below shows a woman answering a call using a touch-free gesture while her hands are covered in whatever that is she’s Keep Reading

Written By Jordan Kahn

We’ve talked a lot about all the rumors regarding a potential Apple branded HDTV. Some are calling it the new Apple TV (not to be confused with their current set-top box), some prefer “iTV” (might have some trademark issues from a 50-year old UK TV network), and we’ve even heard “Apple TV Pro”, and simply “Apple Display”.

Perhaps “Apple Display” makes the most sense given it’s unlikely Apple will release a TV that is just a television. We already have hints at a Siri voice-controlled, iCloud integrated Apple HDTV, and it’s of course possible Apple plans to keep their current (or an upgraded) Apple TV set-top box around for consumers not interested in upgrading their existing HDTV. Keep Reading

Written By Jordan Kahn

Anyone familiar with two of the most popular iOS games– Angry Birds and Cut the Rope– will immediately see the inspiration behind this blatant knock off title currently claiming top spot among free apps in the App Store.

The gameplay of ‘Cut the Birds’ is actually more of a mixup between Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja, although Rovio has the most to be upset about as the main characters of the game are pretty much Angry Bird clones.

There is no shortage of games that rip-off the most popular iOS title’s mechanics and naming schemes Keep Reading

Have sales of the Galaxy S II (practically an iPhone 4 clone) allowed Samsung to pass Apple as the top smartphone vendor?

If the analysts are to be believed, Samsung did just exactly that, surpassing Apple during the third quarter with 27.8 million smartphone shipments in contrast to Apple’s 17.1 million. These numbers account for Samsung capturing 23.8 percent of the global smartphone market (in shipments) and Apple with 14.6 percent, this according to a report from Strategy Analytics market research firm. Keep Reading

We’ve seen a lot of creative Steve Jobs tributes since the computer industry pioneer passed away earlier this month. Apple closed stores and posted tributes from over a million fans who wrote in to the rememberingsteve@apple.com memorial, then an iPhone 4S was sent into space in tribute of Jobs, followed by probably the most incredible hair art tribute haircut you’ll see.

Sony Pictures is even rumored to be acquiring the rights for a big screen biopic. Keep Reading

Written By Jordan Kahn

Google has just begun to roll out the highly anticipated Google TV Android 3.1 update that comes with, among other things, a brand new UI and support for Android Market apps (sort of).

The revamped UI provides a number of welcomed new features including the ability to customize your home screen with your most used content and apps, and a new “all apps” section just like Android smartphones. Keep Reading

Put together by Microsoft’s director of envisioning David Jones (yes, that’s a real job) and his team, the “Productivity Future Vision” concept video below shows the company’s vision of how technology will evolve over the next five to ten years. Microsoft explained in a blog post earlier today:

“The video shows our vision for a future where technology extends and highlights our productive capabilities; it helps us manage our time better, focus our attention on the most important things Keep Reading

Written By Jordan Kahn

PBS announced in a press release tonight their upcoming hour-long Steve Jobs documentary slated to air at 10PM ET on November 2nd.

Entitled “Steve Jobs– One More Thing” (taken from Jobs’ famous tagline during product unveilings), the doc will feature interviews with Apple co-founders Steve Wozniak, Ronald Wayne, and other industry members who knew and interviewed Jobs such as Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal. Keep Reading

Perhaps the biggest revelation to come out of the recently released Steve Jobs bio by author Walter Isaacson is the possibility of an Apple branded HDTV. Jobs told Isaacson he “finally cracked it” when talking about plans to create an integrated TV that is “completely easy to use” and that “seamlessly synced with all of your devices and with iCloud”.

Today analysts are coming out of the woodwork claiming Apple is already working on the device and has been for quite some time. The New York Times published a report by Nick Bilton where he claims Apple Keep Reading

Written By Jordan Kahn

It had already been reported by the Wall Street Journal earlier in October that Sony was looking to purchase Ericsson’s 50% share of their joint-venture phone business known as Sony Ericsson. Today, Sony made things official by issuing a press release outlining the $1.5 billion (1.05 billion euros) deal that will presumably see Sony dropping “Ericsson” from branding on future smartphones.

Sony will also gain ownership of “five essential patent families” related to smartphones. Their plan is to better integrate Keep Reading

Written By Jordan Kahn

The man in the images above and below is Trevor Prideaux, who until having this Nokia C7 smartphone built into his prosthetic arm would often resort to simply placing the phone on a table or other flat surface in order to use it.

The story comes from a report by The Telegraph who profiled Prideaux. Although Nokia, prosthetic expert Steve Gallichan and others helped embed the device into the fiberglass limb, the Nokia C7 actually wasn’t Prideaux’s first choice. He originally Keep Reading

Written By Jordan Kahn

If you weren’t able to grab the PSX4Droid PlayStation emulator from the Android Market before it was removed last March, you’ll want head over to the Market now and grab the new version from developer SnootyKing. Following the original ban, the app went open-source and since SnootyKing has been readying his own version which is available now for $4.99 USD.

Unfortunately, it looks like this new version might not be as stable as the original emulator. Many users are reporting bugs with some not even able to launch the app. You might be interested in knowing Keep Reading