According to a new report, published by Korea IT News, Apple has requested for silver nanowire material from its display suppliers like Samsung Display and LG Display among others. The new material being investigated for use in the larger iPad is expected to enable Apple to make a thinner display for its upcoming iPad and increase touch sensitivity.

As the name suggests, the material is created from a mesh of silver wires which dramatically increases conductivity and eliminates the need for additional sensors to make multi-touch technology work.

iPad Pro isn’t expected to be announced this year. The report suggests that the company is aiming for 2016 release date. The device is also expected to include NFC chip to bring Apple Pay support to the tablet.

Apple’s next gen products always tend to be thinner than previous. If we compare the original iPad with the iPad Air 2 it will be clear that for the tablet category weight and thickness are very important aspects. We can certainly expect Apple to adopt new display technology even if it saves the slightest bit of weight or thickness.

It is will be interesting to see if the iPad Pro actually ships with a stylus as the company has never officially appreciated the development surrounding the stylus accessory. The most recent exception to this public acknowledgement of the stylus adding value to the iPad is the latest ad campaign which shows an app from the App Store being used with a stylus.

Are you excited about iPad Pro? Do you think it will ship with a stylus? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus according to Apple is the biggest update to the iPhone since the original. Both phones feature larger display with Retina HD technology, new processors, NFC chip, better camera sensors and barometer.

The new phones will go on sale for walk-in customers on September 19 and will be available at Apple retail stores, network partners and authorised resellers.

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook said, “iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are better in every way, and we are thrilled customers love them as much as we do.” He further added, “Pre-orders for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus set a new record for Apple, and we can’t wait to get our best iPhones yet into the hands of customers starting this Friday.”

In addition to the United States, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus will also be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK this Friday.

To put the pre-order figures of iPhone 6 in perspective, iPhone 5 pre-orders topped two million in first 24 hours in 2012 and the first weekend sales crossed five million devices. Apple did not release pre-order figures for iPhone 5S, however it did reveal that the first weekend sales figures topped 9 million devices and included China too.

This year iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus just like iPhone 5 will arrive a bit late in China due to delayed regulatory approvals. So, iPhone 6 pre-orders at 4 million in just 24 hours is certainly a very impressive record for Apple.

With its bigger screen phones, Apple Pay and the upcoming Apple Watch, the company is all set to break previous records and gain a lot of lost ground from Samsung. On September 26 the new phones from Apple will go on sale in 20 additional countries including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey and United Arab Emirates.

What are your predictions about the first weekend sales for the new iPhones? Will Apple cross the 10 million mark this year? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Just a few hours ago Apple wrapped up its special media event. As expected the company announced two new iPhones, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus. The new phones will launch in India on September 26 October 17 according to Apple India website.

iPhone 6 features a 4.7 inch retina HD 1334-by-750-pixel resolution at 326 ppi while iPhone 6 plus features 5.5 inch retina HD 1920-by-1080-pixel resolution at 401 ppi. Both phones run on Apple’s second generation 64-bit chip called A8 and include new M8 co-processor for motion tracking. The new A8 and M8 chips are smaller and more power efficient. The new phones will see a performance boost of up-to 50% and up-to 84% faster GPU performance.

Apple has also include a barometer to measure flight based activities like climbing stairs to be included as a physical activity in the health tracking apps.

The camera is still 8 megapixels with 1.5µ pixels, however Apple claims that the new camera sensors and the technology has been enhanced to take much better photos. iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus include autofocus with focus pixels, ƒ/2.2 aperture, improved face detection, panorama (up to 43 megapixels) and more. iPhone 6 plus exclusively gains optical image stabilisation technology to avoid the shaky videos and photos with motion blur.

Both phones now also include NFC for Apple Pay service. Unlike other payment services Apple Pay does not store sensitive information rather it allots a unique id and generates dynamic security code while using TouchID authentication for payment transactions.

The new iPhones will be available in 16GB, 64GB and 128GB variations. This year Apple has chosen to discontinue the 32GB variant. The pricing of iPhone 6 in the U.S. is $199, $299, $399 for 16GB, 64GB and 128GB respectively. While iPhone 6 plus is priced priced $100 more for each storage tier.

This will the first time that Apple’s iPhone will be available in India in less than a month since its announcement.

Apple also announced the all-new Apple Watch which is expected to launch in 2015. Apple Watch will be available in three variants. The Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch Edition. The pricing will begin at $349 for the low-end model.

The campers often have an ‘agenda’ which is either to gain fame, promote their products or earn some money in exchange of the first spot in the line. Apple has been known to be extremely supportive of its customers lining outside the retail stores by offering food and coffee for free. Other companies are also eager to join the bandwagon by sponsoring the campers with their products of course.

Rob Shoesmith camped outside Apple’s retail store for 10 days in anticipation of iPhone 4S which got him a lot of media attention and sponsors. This year Jason and Moon Ray got the first spot after paying $2500 to Brian Ceballo and Joseph Cruz of BuyBackWorld. Jason and Moon Ray are promoting a health app called VideoMedicine which can used to videoconference with doctors.

This year Apple is widely expected to announce 4.7 inch and 5.5 inch screen iPhones. The next iPhone is rumoured to feature sapphire crystal display, improved camera sensor, new biometric sensors, improved battery performance and NFC chip. Analysts report suggest that Apple will finally enter the mobile payment segment with NFC enabled iPhone by partnering with American Express, Visa and MasterCard.

iPhone 6 / iPhone Air is also expected to be available in 128GB capacity in addition to 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models. The pricing of these models is unknown however, it is estimated that 5.5 inch model will cost $100 more that the current price points.

Apart from iPhone announcement the company is also rumoured to enter wearable product category. Apple CEO Tim Cook has commented on wearable technology in the past and has noted that the wrist continues to be an area of interest. In the recent past the company has made notable hires from Nike which further fuel the rumours about an iWatch.

All rumours will be put to rest on September 09, 2014 when Apple kicks starts its special iPhone keynote event. Are you excited about the new iPhone 6? Do you think Apple will unveil an iWatch during the event? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

According to the latest rumours based on schematics posted by GeekBar, Apple’s upcoming iPhone 6 could feature NFC and include 1GB RAM. Rumours about Apple including NFC aren’t new there have been many reports even before the introduction of iPhone 5 suggesting that Apple was looking to include Near Field Communications technology. However, Apple introduced AirDrop and PassBook but left out NFC.

This year once again we are hearing about the possibility of NFC in iOS devices. The leaked schematics appears to be design for a NAND flash component according to 9to5Mac.

Todd DeRego, a SoC memory engineer, says that the schematic does not have enough signals for it to be a DRAM interface. He also points out that the AP_TO_NAND text refers to an application processor to NAND link, indicating this memory is actually used as a way of storing the booting firmware and not the main memory of the iPhone. Although the RAM claim is almost certainly untrue, the NFC claim cannot be so easily dismissed.

iPhone 5S just like iPhone 5 features 1GB RAM. Apple hasn’t felt the need to follow in the footsteps of its competitors who market the amount of RAM their smartphone has. Instead Apple has always focused on user experience, even with a dual core 64-bit chip it beats a quad-core Samsung Galaxy S4 in benchmarks.

iPhone 6 release date is expected to be announced at a special media event on September 9th. The new iPhone is widely rumoured to be available in two screen sizes and feature sapphire glass in the high end model.

According to a report from China Times, Apple is looking to include both fingerprint sensors and NFC (Near Field Communication) e-wallet features to the iPhone 5S. Apple has reportedly drafted a contract with Taiwan’s Chipbond Science and Technology in order to develop the fingerprint sensors. The report also notes that both the fingerprint sensors and the NFC capabilities will work in tandem, allowing users to make purchases and verify their payment with their fingerprints.

Earlier this month, Ming-chi Kuo of KGI Securities reported that Apple was looking to include a fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5S as well as an improved camera and A7 chip. He also mentioned that next iPhone would have the same design as the iPhone 5 and would release in the June/July timeframe. This isn’t the first time that reports like these have surfaced, however, Kuo has a solid track record, having accurately reported on a number of Apple product releases and refreshes.

Apple has reportedly been working on including a fingerprint sensor in the iPhone since last year, when the Cupertino company acquired security firm AuthenTec for $356 million. The firm was acquired specifically for the its “Smart Sensor” technology, which is only 1.30 millimeters thick and can scan 500 pixels per inch. Kuo noted previously that this “Smart Sensor” would be strategically placed under the home button for easy scanning when prompted. When not activated, the sensor would remain off under the button.

Apple is setting itself up for a much improved iPhone e-wallet experience, with the introduction of Passbook last year and now the rumored fingerprint sensor. This is the first time that the company would utilize the bezel on its iOS devices for anything other than holding the device and to house the home button.

{Via AppleInsider}

Apple’s new Passbook feature, introduced with the latest iOS 6 is compatible with a host of apps on the Apple App Store, and is capable of storing boarding passes, gift cards, tickets, and even prescription, putting them all in one place for easy access.

Upon release of the new Passbook app on iPhones and iPod touches, the only airlines that supported the feature were Lufthansa and American Airlines, which allowed users to store and scan their boarding passes directly on their devices. Late last week, Air Canada released an update to their iPhone app, adding electronic boarding passes through Passbook, as well as support for the iPhone 5.

Customers who check-in on mobile.aircanada.com, aircanada.com or at and airport kiosk and access their Electronic Boarding Pass with a supported device (iPhone or iPod touch on iOS 6) will receive the Passbook version of the Electronic Boarding Pass. The Passbook version works just like our existing Electronic Boarding Pass and will allow customers to identify themselves at airport kiosks, check-in counters, enable them to pass through security and board their flights.

Air Canada has also mentioned that they have Passbook enhancements planned for 2013, which will likely further integrate the Air Canada iPhone app features into Passbook. As more airlines adopt the Passbook format of their electronic boarding passes, as well as other companies including their services through Passbook, it is becoming increasingly simpler for users to use their iPhone and iPod for mobile payments. If Passbook becomes a major feature of the iPhone, it is also very likely that NFC would become a possibility, and perhaps even the arrival of credit and debit cards on the iPhone.

{Via iMore — Image Credit: iPhoneInCanada}

Over the past several months, numerous photos have surfaced online, with websites suggesting that they are genuine parts to Apple’s upcoming iPhone 5. Rumors have also pointed to a media event for the release date announcement of iPhone 5 on September 12th.

The most recent leak comes from Apple.pro, which has posted a set of images of what appears to be a fully assembled iPhone 5 front panel with the home button and the front camera installed. The images were originally posted to a photobucket account, which has a track record of Apple leaks, including the thickness of the new iPad and one of the first to release images of a white panel for the next generation iPhone.

These latest images all but confirm that an iPhone 5 is set to be released in the coming weeks and show the home button and front camera attached to the LCD with metal brackets. The front facing camera is now located on the center of the device, similar to the iPad and iPod touch. The iPhone 5 front panel is expected to be attached to the two toned unibody shell, leaked several weeks ago. The shell would also be 4 inches, to match with the LCD screen.

Japanese site Macotakara has also released details suggesting that the square shaped metal piece at the bottom of the leaked panel may in fact be an NFC chip, which can be used to set up credit cards and other wireless features.

Apple’s next generation iPhone 5 is expected to be announced at a media event on September 12th, followed by a release in retail stores on September 21st. The iPhone 5 is also said to be accompanied by a new iPad Mini and the public release of iOS 6.

{Via MacRumors}

With all the buzz being that Apple will bring NFC to the iPhone 5 with iWallet, we all pondered what a world would be like where we all paid for things just by waving our smartphones at a terminal. That future could well be a reality, but it’s not Apple that will be the first to market but rather its new arch rival – Google.

Google has announced its ‘Google Wallet’ venture, with partners ranging from MasterCard to Macy’s. Google Wallet is intended to replace all those credit and debit cards we carry around in our pockets and purses with one NFC equipped smartphone.

Trials for Google Wallet will begin immediately in both New York and San Francisco with a full roll out to the rest of the United States planned for the summer. Unfortunately the only handset to be compatible with Wallet initially will be the Google/Sprint Nexus S 4G but Google does promise more handsets will come online later. The search giant also confirms that any handset could theoretically join in the fun with the aid of an NFC sticker.

Payments will need to run through either a Citi MasterCard or Google Prepaid Card, so you’ll be needing at least one if you’re looking to use NFC to buy your footlong sub from Google Wallet partner, Subway.

NFC has been slow to catch on outside Japan, and many had hoped Apple would be the ones to help the technology take hold in the United States and Europe. Google will be hoping to establish itself in the market before Apple’s inevitable arrival.

{Source: Engadget}

It was believed that NFC technology would debut in Apple’s next iPhone to provide users with an “e-wallet” service, enabling them to pay for goods by waving their iPhones over a device at the counter. The Independent report, which dubs NFC as a “wave and pay” service, noted that Apple may instead debut the technology in its iPhone 6, likely to launch in the summer of 2012.

AppleInsider notes that Apple has been looking to hire radio-frequency identification (RFID) experts, and those with experience in mobile payment services, since January of this year. However, a previous job advert suggests Apple has been working on RFID technology in prototype devices since as early as 2009.

NFC technology in the iPhone is certainly something I’m patiently awaiting. The possibility of being able to leave my home with nothing but my iPhone – no wallet, no cash, no credit cards – would be incredibly useful. However, I have to say that I’m yet to see this service in any shop I’ve been into here in the U.K. Unless the majority of U.K. retailers pick the technology up by this summer, an iPhone with NFC capabilities would be practically useless to me.

They even go so far as to say this..

Deutsche Telekom announced that it expects NFC phones in 2011 from Apple, Samsung[Nexus S?] in Q2, and RIM & LG in Q3. The company expects mobile payments replacing cash to be the most popular use for NFC technology, followed by mobile ticketing for services such as public transportation.

It certainly also seems that VISA are serious about getting into NFC payments as soon as possible. We’ve reported on that in the past. VISA have been experimenting with additions for the iPhone (and other smart-phones) which allow it to take payments via NFC today. They recently ran training and some PR on this in Europe.

It is worth remembering that T-Mobile’s slides could simply be explained as them making an educated guess – like the rest of us. Secure in the knowledge that NFC dongles are on their way in any case.

So one way or the other, even if Apple do the very unexpected and skip NFC this year, there will still be a lot of this in our immediate future.

Looking forward to a “Digital Wallet”? Have your say in the comments…

The first of three suggests that the second-generation device will boast NFC (near field communications) capabilities, and that Apple is working on accessories that will work with the NFC/RFID chips in the device. iLounge explains some of the benefits of having this chip in the device:

In the most basic implementation, an accessory could announce its presence and potential functions to an iPad or iPhone without the need for a Bluetooth or similar connection; our source suggests that an otherwise simple case could include a radio chip so that an inserted iPhone or iPad could go into power-saving hibernation mode automatically. More complex accessories will go far beyond that.

The second rumor is one I have previously heard about the new device, and that’s a carbon fibre housing that would replace the current aluminum one. The advantage of a carbon fibre shell is weight loss, as the material is significantly lighter than aluminum. iPad shells made from carbon fibre have already been discovered, but there’s no indication as to whether the final model of the device will feature the material.

The last rumor is, for me, the most questionable one. According to the iLounge source, an Apple supplier has been asked to manufacture a component that would be used in a smaller tablet device, suggesting the next round of iPads could offer a 7-inch model. However, you may recall that Steve Jobs mocked smaller tablets and branded them “dead on arrival” earlier this year, leading us to believe that Apple would not be offering up a 7-inch iPad.

What are you thoughts on the latest rumors? Is there anything here that you’d like to see in the iPad 2, and do you think any of them will appear? Let us know in the comments.

{via MacRumors}

Apple is also well known to be aiming to introduce a mobile payment system, perhaps linked to MobileMe account this year.

Cnet are reporting today that a source of theirs has told them that both the iPad 2 and the iPhone 5 will sport NFC chips. The iPhone 5 feature is pretty much expected by most of us, but sticking it in the iPad 2 would be a surprise. It would also perhaps give Apple that extra killer feature to “wow” us with and detract from the disappointment that will inevitably be felt by some if a super high resolution “Retina” display, or dual core CPU don’t make an appearance in the third gen iPad.

Although we are a little sceptical as to who would carry their iPad 2 around with them as a convenient payment method – seeing as they are just a little too large to fit in your pocket, or your wallet!

Having said that we did report some time ago that Apple plans to introduce a feature in OS X and iOS which allows iDevices to become “virtual keys” which can communicate with desktop Macintosh computers and allow you to take them over temporarily with all your usual settings in a customised user space, as well as core files you want to work on while on the move. Perhaps the NFC components in future iOS devices and refreshed Macintosh computers will be part of this feature? Or allow transfer of data between iOS devices – although we already have Bluetooth and Wifi for that, so why yet another standard?

Do you expect NFC in the upcoming iPad 2, or in the iPhone 5 only? Let us know your thoughts in the comments…

Speculation as to whether Google would launch a follow up to its semi-popular Nexus One Handset has been rife for quite some time, but we can finally put it all to bed. A combination of some snooping by the team over at Engadget and Google CEO showing off a mystery handset at the Web 2.0 Summit last week seems to prove the existence of the next Nexus handset, expected to be called the Nexus S.

So what do we know about it? Not all that much other than a few photos. We know it’s made by Samsung and is part of the Galaxy line, hence the ‘S’ designation and will sport Android 2.3 Gingerbread. We also know it will incorporate NFC, or Near Field Communication Technology. Imagine BlueTooth but with a shorter radius. The hope is that, in due course, NFC will usher in a new way of paying for goods, replacing the traditional card system we all use today. The thought of waving your phone at a terminal to pay for your shopping is an intriguing one, and if Google has its way it may not be as far away as first thought.

More info is popping up all the time, but the Nexus S is shaping up to be a very interesting piece of kit!

Google Nexus S

Google's CEO shows off Nexus S

Cult of Mac have picked up on an interesting tidbit about a possible second use for the NFC capabilities expected to be included in the iPhone 5. And that would be an ability to function as a virtual key to your Mac user account, so that you can hijack any Mac and make it behave just like your Mac at home. Presumably with the owners permission, of course!

It’s expected that the communications field that a Near Field Communications (NFC) chip, rumored to be included in the iPhone 5 due out next year, will be used to authenticate financial and electronic ticket transactions in stores, at airports and so forth. But this second use is something that could really turn the way we use computers on its head.

Basically the idea is that when your iPhone is in range of any Mac it will be able to provide data related to your Address Book, Keychains, Email Accounts, Apps, and even your desktop background and layout to that Mac so that you can use it as if you were on your own Macintosh at home. When the iPhone is taken away the Mac will then forget all about the iPhone that “hijacked” it, presumably (hopefully) also forget all of your personal data too, and then revert to whatever settings it had before.

It is very likely that this feature will be closely tied to MobileMe. Making that service all the more important to Apple’s customers. If you are anything like me you probably only keep MobileMe around because you are too lazy to find another way to sync years of browser data, passwords you no longer remember, and in the vain hope that you might get 5 minutes of fame one day tracking down an iPhone thief!

NFC “mobile computing” could well end up being the must have feature of 2011!Whatever the truth of this rumor is, it is clear that NFC and using your iPhone as a virtual key for authenticating your life is high on Apple’s agenda for next year.

Does this kind of feature make you worry about security? Or resign you to renewing MobileMe for yet another year? Have your say in the comments…