iPad 3 Rumors of Upgraded Camera Confirmed by Leaked Case Images

iPad 3 Rumors of Upgraded Camera Confirmed by Leaked Case ImagesLoyal Apple followers desperate for iPad 3 rumors and release-date whispers have of course been rather overloaded as of late to say the least, though when any suggestions and ‘insights’ come with images to back them up, this is when the attention and excitement really hits fever pitch.

Well, if the latest sources are to be believed and the apparent leaked images presented prove genuine, a larger camera lens hole in the case of the iPad 3 is all the confirmation we could ever need of significantly bumped up camera quality – most likely the 8 megapixels we had all come to expect, or perhaps even more still?

The same leaked images also seem to confirm that the iPad 3 will indeed appear as a slightly thicker tablet than its predecessor, though to exactly how big an extent remains to be seen. Of course, any size increase will likely be more than justified by way of possible 4G LTE connectivity, boosted battery life, Retina quality display panel and a new A6 or A5X processor.

In related news from a rather different side of the fence, RIM has finally made public the new PlayBook OS 2.0 operating system for the long-suffering PlayBook tablet, which offers users a number of new features than really should never have been absent in the first place – such as email and calendar support. Needless to say, the timing of the release is quite clearly to contend with the incredible attention the iPad 3 has already captured, but in the eyes of most industry experts and consumers alike, the phrase “Too little, too late” may be something of an understatement at this point in time to say the very least.

iPad Rumors – Full Pricing Details Confirmed by Leak

iPad Rumors – Full Pricing Details Confirmed by LeakAs iPad 3 rumors and release date suggestion continue to gather momentum by the day, a new leak appears to have confirmed that all of the incredible new goodies courtesy of Apple will not be coming without their additional price tag.

Should a recent online report from a usually credible source be believed, a pricing sheet has found its way onto the web and depicts the full pricing details of the upcoming iPad 3 range.

If true, expect to pay either $70 or $80 more for the iPad than its second-generation predecessors last year.

An increase in pricing for the iPad 3 may also result in the iPad 2 being kept at the exact same price it currently retails for, dispelling the optimistic rumors of massive price reductions to clear remaining inventory.

Those looking to invest in the iPad 3 will be forced to hand over $579, $679 or $779 for the standard 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models respectively, while 4G versions of the same storage options will retail for $699, $799 and $899.

Of course, the usual pinch of salt must be taken in no uncertain terms as not only does Apple have a history of introducing price drops to help shift remaining stocks of previous generation models, but the fact that devices the likes of the $199 Amazon Kindle Fire are still capturing the world’s imagination could make a bumped-up price tag a significant move in the wrong direction.

What’s more, the highest-end iPad 3 would in theory retail for only $100 less than the cheapest MacBook Air, which although may not appear to be a big deal on the surface may indeed cause controversy if or when the two ranges overlap by way of price.

Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook to Arrive Before iPad 3 Release Date

Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook to Arrive Before iPad 3 Release DateWhile the 2012 MacBook Air Range and the iPad 3 release dates remain some of the best kept secrets in the tech world today, Dell is looking to fill a rather lucrative gap in the market with its own entry to the Ultrabook battlefield within weeks.

The new Dell XPS 13 looks set to be the first truly next-generation notebook computer of 2012, perhaps arriving considerably earlier than the competition from other leading brands the likes of Apple. Orders are already being taken for the new powerhouse of a device online, with shipping estimated to begin as early as tomorrow.

Spec-wise, the news XPS 13 boasts a 13.3 inch screen with resolution of 1366 by 768, 4GB of RAM and processing power up to the second-generation Intel Core i7 2.8GHz.

All models and options will ship with Windows 7 Home Premium, along with 256GB solid state hard drives – the entry-level option however will only offer 128GB.

However, in terms of desirability it will of course be the size of the XPS 13 that really grabs the most attention, measuring in at just 6mm at its thinnest point – a direct challenge to the superbly popular MacBook Air range.

Speaking of which, the new 2012 MacBook Air range has been earmarked for its first unveiling immediately after the expected iPad 3 release date next month, with ‘game-changing’ specs and conveniences that may bring the iOS experience closer to Mac users than ever before.

Back with the Dell now, the XPS 13 range begins from $999 for the entry-level model and goes on to a respectable $1,499 for the highest-end.

Court Ruling Hints at iPad 3 Release Date for March 7th

Court Ruling Hints at iPad 3 Release Date of March 7th Apple devotees patiently awaiting the iPad 3 release date in all is glory may have a new date to mark on the calendar today, along with a potential and rather unexpected location.

According to the latest series of reports surfacing online, a court ruling in Germany regarding Apple’s right to sell the iPad 3 across the country has indeed secured the release of the next-generation tablet, citing the all-important date as March 7th.

Numerous sources have come forward to report that Apple had filed to overturn or temporarily halt a previously requested ban by Motorola, which had argued that a number of iOS devices infringed on patents held by Motorola Mobility – specifically the iPad and the iPhone. The suit forced Apple to withdraw a number of 3G models from both physical and online Apple stores.

However, the latest ruling in favor of Apple has stated that the patents are now industry standard and therefore cannot be used to halt the sale of present or future devices…at least for now.

This will of course come as welcome relief to Apple amid an ongoing legal battle in China regarding ownership of the ‘iPad’ moniker itself. Even as of now, talk continues of an outright ban on iPad and upcoming iPad 3 sales and distribution across China, potentially impacting global exports in a rather detrimental way to say the very least.

New Adobe Photoshop Touch App Leaked Online – Sign of Imminent iPad 3 Release Date?

New Adobe Photoshop Touch App Leaked Online – Sign of Imminent iPad 3 Release Date?Adobe appears to be ready and waiting to make the very most of the upcoming iPad 3 release date later this March, with the new Photoshop Touch app having been briefly leaked online.

According to multiple reports from entirely unrelated sources, Adobe Photshop is well and truly on its way to the iPad 3, so as to make full use of its Retina quality display – the first and only to appear on a tablet PC.

What’s more, rumor has it that the app is set to hit the shelves early next week, which in turn has led to the suggestion that the announcement of the iPad 3 release date could be no more than days away.

Various industry sources have come forward to report that then new Photoshop Touch app briefly appeared in the iTune Store in Australia, though was almost immediately withdrawn from sale – despite the fact that the app appears to be working flawlessly. This has of course led to speculation that the deliberate ‘pause’ in distribution is to time its official launch with that of the iPad 3 so as to maximize sales and overall impact.

Photoshop Touch is reported to be retailing for $9.99, which is quite astonishingly low given the prowess of the Adobe range in general.

Early estimates have suggested that iPad sales for 2012 including all three generations will reach as high as 48 million, of which up to 50% expected to invest in the new Adobe app.

iPad 3 Release Date and Rumors – No Big Changes in the Pipeline?

iPad 3 Release Date and Rumors – No Big Changes in the Pipeline?Rumors and educated guesses are building thick and fast ahead of the expected iPad 3 release date next month, though a number of industry insiders are now advising perhaps to expect a little less than might.

According to new rumors from certain Far Eastern sources, the iPad 3 will in fact be almost identical in design and case size to the iPad 2, with a dual-core processor also being present rather than the quad-core A6 we had come to expect.

That being said, the same sources also state in no uncertain terms that display quality will be exponentially beefed-up, while the processor will also be significantly upgraded in terms of overall performance.

Of course, overall user-experience and performance against the competition should really be all that counts with any next-generation tablet PC, but there’s little escaping the fact that an upgraded model almost identical to the previous will never garner anything other than skepticism and criticism from rival brands – case in point being the iPhone 4S.

Over the course of recent months, Samsung has launched numerous and occasionally scathing attacks at the iPhone 4S, basically implying that general Apple hype and hysteria is all that is carrying the company and its products forward – products which in their opinion offer nothing that they and other don’t already do far better.

Nevertheless, the iPad 3 or perhaps the iPad 2S as it may yet come to be known will be an unstoppable success to say the least, with the first tablet-sized Retina quality display, 4G LTE technology and the now-dubbed A5X processor estimated to offer at least 50% more power.

iPhone 5 Rumors Point to Removal of Current Dock Connector

iPhone 5 Rumors Point to Removal of Current Dock ConnectorNew iPhone rumors and stirring have come about this week, suggesting that Apple is giving genuine consideration to replacing the standard docking connector with a more efficient alternative in all future iOS product releases.

According to the reports responsible for the suggestions, the new connectors would take the form of so-called “Micro Docks” and would essentially provide the same functionality with far lower space requirements – space invaluable for the implementation of critical upgrade components.

It may of course come to pass that one of the primary motivating factors behind the consideration is that of battery size, as limited space has always rendered iOS devices unable to keep up with a number of leading Android competitors in terms of their overall battery life.

That being said, this would amount to a rather drastic decision to say the least, rendering all future iOS devices incompatible with current accessories and docking stations, without the use of additional adapters or converters.

Of course, such plans are unlikely to affect the iPad 3 which is expected to see its release date come about as early as next month, but given the fact that space has always been at a massive premium in the iPhone, those awaiting the iPhone 5 may be wise to keep their eye on this particular development.

On the other hand, Apple may choose to look into pioneering further wireless communication and charging technology and do away with the physical connector once and for all…though is unlikely to happen this year at least.

Thinner, Lighter and More iOS-Like MacBook Range to Closely Follow iPad 3 Release Date

Thinner, Lighter and More iOS-Like MacBook Range to Closely Follow iPad 3 Release DateAs the world continues to wait with quite admirable patience for a concrete iPad 3 release date to be confirmed, a newly filed patent from Apple has suggested an even thinner MacBook Air range in the pipeline.

According to reputable sources within the industry, Apple already has plans in place to launch a new 2012 range of MacBook Air and MacBook pro devices almost immediately after the iPad 3 release date, which is expected next month. Should the new size-related rumors prove true, along with the new Mac OS X Mountain Lion operating system this will amount to a full and comprehensive overhaul of the range as a whole.

The patent application in question hints towards Apple’s feeling that current keyboard thickness is too great to allow for the thinness and lightness they are of course known to hold so dearly. Should the details of the patent come to life, key-travel distant on the new MacBook range may be as low as 0.2mm.

This of course appears to mark yet another step toward combining all features of reverence the iPad range carries with the Apple brand of notebooks and netbooks, following the first year in company history where iOS devices outsold their PC and notebook ranges.

As such, the 2012 MacBook range is expected to bring notebooks more closely resembling tablets than ever before in terms of size, weight, thickness, operating system and potential even touchscreen interfaces.

Apple CEO Cook – Facebook is a Friend, No Comment on Apple TV and Silence on iPad 3 Release Date Details

Apple CEO Cook – Facebook is a Friend, No Comment on Apple TV and Silence on iPad 3 Release Date DetailsThe first Apple shareholders meeting in the post Steve Jobs era has seen Tim Cook affirm his friendship with Facebook, refuse to answer questions about Apple TV and in no way mention either the iPhone 5 or the iPad 3 release date – the latter being expected as early as next month.

Maintaining the same impressive though incredibly frustrating silence we had come to expect as standard from the late Steve Job, Apple CEO Cook instead talked of stocks, interns and the way in which Facebook is of huge value to Apple customers.

When directly asked about Facebook, Cook responded:”Facebook: friend. We do a lot with them, our users use Facebook an enormous amount.”

Improved Twitter integration was also discussed, in relation to the way in which doing so has offered extensive benefits for both Twitter and Apple.

Unfortunately, when posed a question on the future plans for Apple TV which brought up the potential collaboration with LG, Cook declined to comment.

All in all, the meeting was summarized with the announcement that the company as a whole has far more money than it needs and considerably more than last year, signaling a bright 2012 in no uncertain terms.

As for the upcoming iPad 3 release date indeed that of the new MacBook range, the latest iPod Touch refresh and of course the iPhone 5, it’s once again back to the rumor mill for the time being at least.

Apple’s Legal Battle Strays Closer to Home – iPad 3 Release Date at Risk?

Apple’s Legal Battle Strays Closer to Home – iPad 3 Release Date at Risk?Apple’s ongoing legal battle in China appears to be creeping ever-closer to home soil today, with the Chinese technology firm at the center of the dispute having now filed a suit against the Cupertino giant in its native California.

 

Proview Technology has already filed action against Apple in various regions across China, suggesting that they themselves have owned the right to the ‘iPad’ name for over a decade – thus demanding that all sales are ceased across the country immediately.

 

The past week has seen Proview further their campaign, by filing a similar suit in Clara County.

 

Of course, the difference in the American and Chinese legal systems will likely lead to dissimilar outcomes in the two nations, but any expansion of the current case can only serve to complicate and delay matters further.

 

The main concern for Apple is of course the sales and shipments of devices in China, where the company had really only begun “scratching the surface” of a truly lucrative market. What’s more, the fact that the iPad 3 assembled in China could lead to grave stock shortages should any delays ensue.

 

Meanwhile, Apple was successful in court yesterday to sidestep a potential injunction halting the sale of all iPad devices in Shanghai, which is by far the company’s most important region in China and plays host to three of the Apple’s five official Chinese stores.