The publication quotes Taipei-based analyst Jeff Pu who suggests that Largan Precision Co, a major smartphone camera lens supplier to Apple Inc. will “face limited earnings” due to slow transition to higher-resolution lenses.

Pu said that the camera specifications of the next-generation iPhone, dubbed iPhone 6S, will stay the same as the current iPhone 6 at 8-megapixels, limiting potential catalysts to push Largan’s stock price higher in the second half of the year.

The report published by Taipei Times contradicts Daring Fireball’s John Gruber belief that Apple may be working on major camera improvements for the next iPhone.

Apple has been following a pattern when it comes to launching new iPhone each year. The company introduces an all-new design one year and then follows up with the same design but with new processor and camera enhancements.

Most companies have launched new phones with more megapixels each year whereas Apple has retained the 8 megapixel camera since the iPhone 4s but, improved the sensor and added new technologies to allow users to take better photos.

Apple leads the list of most popular cameras on Flickr and to retain that spot the company would need to continue making the iPhone camera better each year. It will be interesting to see if Apple features a higher megapixel camera in the new iPhone. The new iPhones are likely to be unveiled sometime near September this year.

With Apple’s September 12th iPhone 5 keynote event scheduled for tomorrow, Apple has finished preparing the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts where the event will be held. Apple has had held numerous other keynote events at the San Francisco based arts center and is doing the same to announce the sixth gen iPhone.

The colorful graphics are generally put onto the glass with an Apple logo centered in the middle of the exterior and generally signifies something about the product being released. This design appears to show stretched app icons of all different colors, interlaced with each other, and running straight down from top to bottom. The colors come together to form one larger tapestry of colors.

Although the iPhone 5 is expected at this event and will only arrive in black and white, this can possibly represent the content that will be available on the device, the larger screen on the iPhne 5 or perhaps the introduction of a new iPod touch, iPod nano, or a new line of iPods that can come in different colors. The next gen iPhone is widely believed to to feature 4G /LTE network, faster processor, possibly a bigger battery and 16:9 screen aspect ratio.

The event is scheduled for September 12th, 2012 and will go live at 10AM PT/ 1PM ET. Touch Reviews will be bringing you an all-in-one live feed tomorrow.

{via MacStories}

Several days after releasing images of the next generation iPhone 5 mini dock connector, French site, Nowhereelse.fr reposted images from forum Weiphone of what appears to be the iPhone 5 logic board. The logic board, which houses the processor and chips for other functions appears to be built differently than the iPhone 4 and the current iPhone 4S. Leaked parts for the upcoming iPhone 5 have been coming out for several months now, and new parts have been appearing as the announcement date draws closer.

Nowhereelse noted in their report that this logic board likely belongs to the iPhone 5 because of how the screw holes line up with other logic board shells leaked prior to this one. Weiphone has a proven track record with photos of iPhone logic boards, accurately releasing images of the iPhone 4S logic board which turned out to house the A5 chip.

In recent months, a number of parts have surfaced for the next generation iPhone 5, including a 9 pin charger and even a fully assembled model. The iPhone 5 is expected to be announced as soon as September 12th and will likely be available for pre-order soon after, perhaps even the same day. The iPhone 5 is expected to have a larger 4 inch screen, likely a faster processor, mini dock connector, relocated FaceTime camera and headphone jack, and a thinner unibody design. Apple’s iOS 6 is also slated for release alongside the iPhone 5.

{via MacRumors}

Apple has been rumored to release an updated line of MacBooks, most notably the new MacBook Pro, which is expected to take on the thin design of the MacBook Air. On Monday, Chinese forum Weiphone released an image of what appeared to be a specs sticker on the back of a 13.3 inch MacBook Pro box. The image revealed only minor additions to the MacBook Pro line, such as the new 2.5GHz Ivy Bridge processor as well as the new Intel HD Graphics 4000 GPU. The specs also reveal that Apple is adding USB 3.0 for faster charging and data transfers as well as Bluetooth 4.0.

Although there were rumors that the MacBook Pro would be receiving the popular Retina Display, it appears that it will remain at the same 1280×800 resolution. Hard Drive and SuperDrive remain unchanged as well. It is likely that Apple is adding features very slowly so as not to cause any major changes to the operation of the battery in the Macbook. Adding a Retina Display could lower the battery life drastically, as would the addition of more RAM, and a faster HardDrive or SuperDrive.

The authenticity of the image remains unknown, although WWDC 2012 could bring hardware releases alongside a suite of software offerings, such as iOS 6 and perhaps another preview of OS X Mountain Lion. It is unclear if Apple will still be introducing a thinner 17 inch model, as the image only specifies the 13.3 inch model, but remains unknown until final announcement by Apple.

{via MacRumors}

Many users of the New iPad 3 have complained that their new device often overheats after long usage. The iPad 3 heating up is expected by some to be a result of the higher resolution display and the faster processor. Although some users have reported only a small amount of heat, others have reported that they could not hold their devices due to the overheating.

Apple responded via The Loop, to the issue, saying:

The new iPad delivers a stunning Retina display, A5X chip, support for 4G LTE plus 10 hours of battery life, all while operating well within our thermal specifications,” Apple representative Trudy Muller, told The Loop. “If customers have any concerns they should contact AppleCare.

Users of the New iPad 3 typically have 30-60 days to return the iPad if they are not satisfied with it and also have the option of taking their new device to the Genius bar for replacement at any of Apple’s retail locations.

In addition to overheating customers have also noticed that the new iPad takes longer to charge. This is due to the fact that Apple increased the size of the battery to give same 10 hour battery life on single charge.

Has your iPad been overheating? Are you going to get a replacement? Share your experience with us in the comments below.

On Wednesday, Apple introduced “The new iPad” (third generation tablet) with a Retina Display coming in at 2048 x 1536 pixels. With iPad 3 Apple aims to redefine the category it created with the original iPad.

The new display on “the new iPad” is retina quality, with indistinguishable pixels when held at the proper 15” viewing angle. The new iPad is powered by the new A5X system-on-chip with quad-core graphics and this display now shows 44% more color saturation than the second gen model.

All of Apple’s stock apps available on the iPad have been updated to work with the Retina Display. As for cameras, the new iPad 3 now be sports 5-megapixel rear camera with advanced optics very similar to the 8-megapixel camera on the iPhone 4S.

HD Video recording up to 1080P is now standard and Apple has also brought over Voice Dictation into the keyboard from the iPhone 4S. Cellular models of the iPad now not only support 3G networks from carriers but now have 4G LTE capabilities. Rumors of 4G LTE enabled iPads were floating around for quite some time prior to the event. The iPad now supports data speeds of up to 21 Mbps on HSPA+, 42 Mbps on dual-carrier HSPA+, and 73 Mbps on LTE.

4G connectivity allows iPad users to browse significantly faster than they have in the past. LTE partners include AT&T and Verizon in the United States and Rogers, Telus, and Bell in Canada, however, due to separate network offerings, AT&T and Verizon will require two different models to operate.

The new iPad, with its higher resolution screen, faster processor and better cameras has still retained the same 10 hour battery life on Wi-Fi and 9 hours on 4G LTE. The new iPad is now slightly thicker than the iPad 2 and slightly heavier but offers many more features coming in at 0.6 mm thicker than the iPad 2 at 9.4 mm thick, and weighs 1.4 pounds versus the 1.33 pound iPad 2.

All other aspects of the iPad remain the same including pricing, coming in at $499/$599/$699 for Wi-Fi models and $629/$729/$829 for 4G LTE models, with capacities coming in at 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB. As rumored, the new iPad will be available on March 16th in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia.

Apple earlier today sent out media invites for iPad 3 launch event which will be held on March 7th, Wednesday in San Francisco. The third-gen iPad will be unveiled at a keynote event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts at 10 a.m Pacific and 1 p.m Eastern time.

Last week we highlighted a report which suggested that Apple was planning a media event in first week of March and today the Cupertino, Calif. based company officially confirmed the event date. The invite sent out to media has image of an iPad with  Maps, Calendar and Keynote apps showing on the dock and the text reads “We have something you really have to see. And touch.”

Apple brought Retina Display to iOS devices with introduction of iPhone 4 and then it made its way to fourth-gen iPod touch. According to various rumors and speculation we’ve reported in the past, iPad 3 is widely expected to feature Retina Display with a resolution of 2,048 by 1,536 pixels and include a faster processor. While most evidences revealed in the past confirm the inclusion of Retina Display it’s still unclear if Apple will use a quad-core chip or a dual-core chip with enhanced graphics.

In addition to an improved display iPad 3 is also expected to feature better rear camera for taking photos however the front-facing camera might not receive any update. It is believed that in order to feature the high resolution display and better camera the iPad 3 might be thicker than iPad 2.

Apple is known to introduce complete product re-design every alternate year so iPad 3 is expected to retain the same design as iPad 2. The company could also introduce new Apple TV with “A5X” chip that could deliver 1080p content to your HD television.

Are you excited about iPad 3 launch event? What are your expectations from the event? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

When Apple announced iPad 2 they called 2011 the “year of iPad 2″ and now the company is all set to repeat its breakthrough success in the tablet market with the introduction of iPad 3. According to reports published by WSJ and iMore iPad 3 release date is expected to be announced on March 7th.

Various leaks, rumors and analysts reports we’ve covered in the past suggest that Apple’s next gen iPad 3 would feature retina display, upgraded processor and there’s also a possibility of 4G LTE networking.

4G LTE networking has been another mystery surrounding the iPad 3, with a compatible Qualcomm chipset becoming available, but international LTE coverage is still slim, and in some cases a year or more away. It sounds like Apple has 4G LTE lined up for iPhone 5 this October, but we’re still not certain if the iPad 3 will get it earlier.

Jim Dalrymple of LoopInsight also seems to agree with the release date announcement of iPad 3 being March 7th. He is known to have reported or confirmed Apple rumors with a very good track  record. The report published by WSJ also pointed to an early March launch event.

LTE rollout has been very slow and while Apple has been rumored to include faster networking in their future products iPad 3 could possibly be Apple’s first iOS device to support LTE. The Cupertino-based company has been testing LTE in iOS 5 as it was revealed in an “internal iOS test build” of one of Apple’s major mobile partners.

Are you excited about iPad 3 launch event? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Many claims of an ARM based MacBook Air have been floating around the web since early last year, suggesting that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is looking to move away from Intel’s processors to something a little bit more unorthodox in desktop and laptop computers.

The ARM processor is the same one used in AAPL’s current iPhone 4S and iPad 2, which use far less power than the average processor and handles memory and app switching without many glitches or errors.

The ARM processor in next Macbook Air could possibly reduce power-requirements, but could experience a severe drop in computing power. CNet reported on a recent interview with Tim Cook and CFO Peter Oppenheimer on Thursday by Citigroup analyst Richard Gardner who addressed the issue regarding an ARM based Macbook Air.

Tim Cook reiterated his view that rapid innovation on the iOS platform (and mobile OS platforms in general) will significantly broaden the use case for tablets, eventually pushing annual tablet volumes above those of traditional PCs. We have wondered whether Apple might offer an ARM-based version of MacBook Air at some point; we walked away from this meeting with the impression that Apple feels iPad satisfies–or will soon satisfy–the needs of those who might have been interested in such a product.

With Gardner’s claims gaining attention around the web and his meetings with Apple executives being taken very seriously, it is safe to say that the iPad will eventually evolve and adapt to handle many functions that the proposed ARM based Macbook Air could.

Rumors since early last year have suggested that the iPad will be gaining a significant upgrade in the coming months. The iPad 3 is expected to receive a higher resolution display, a new A6 chip, and better cameras and is slated for release later this year.

New photos published by M.I.C. Gadget today reveal a white iPhone 4 with a slightly larger display, which many are already dubbing the ‘iPhone 4S’ or ‘iPhone 5′; the next generation iPhone which will feature Apple’s A5 processor – the dual-core chip that recently debuted in the iPad 2. Despite its larger display, the iPhone in the pictures is no bigger than the iPhone 4 – the bezel around the edge of the screen is just much thinner.

The M.I.C. Gadget report states:

Man, we don’t know if this is real, but at least we can see that it has a larger display and edge-to-edge glass. Maybe it’s a mockup, but we are sure that it’s not an iPhone 4.

The photographs certainly look like they’re more than just dodgy fakes. As well as the iPhone photo above, there’s also an image which compares the current iPhone’s digitizer with the one featured on the new device. In this image, you can clearly see how the surrounding bezel has been reduced to make way for a larger screen:

As you can see from the image, the display on the right also features the new-look proximity sensor, which was recently revealed on a white iPhone 4 sold by Vodafone in the U.K. A larger display also ties in with iPhone design drawings that have previously been leaked.

Whether this device is called an iPhone 4S or an iPhone 5, it certainly looks like the next iPhone will feature a larger screen.

The current A4 chip, which is present in the iPhone 4, the iPad, and the new iPod touch, supports the single-core SGX535 GPU, which has featured in Apple devices since the iPhone 3GS. However, the new A5 chip is reported to support the dual-core SGX543 GPU, which is a graphical power improvement of around 4X the current generation. This means that the iPad 2 could carry a display 4X the resolution of the current model, and that a “Retina Display” upgrade isn’t off the cards.

Engadget also points out that it’s likely 2011 will see new devices supporting 1080p HDMI video output as a “default” spec, and that Apple certainly won’t want to feel left out of the true HD gang. Especially when it comes to the AppleTV, which is already slightly lacking without 1080p support, but has dual graphics cores easily capable of handling this resolution.

It’s believed that Apple’s new A5 processor has been developed by the same group responsible for the company’s impressive A4 chip – Apple-owned Intrinsity and PA Semi, while Samsung will do the production duties as it has done with the current processor.

{via Engadget}

First Apple bought PA Semi and was then rumored to have purchased Intrinsity. Google recently purchased Agnilux. Now rumors are circulating Apple has it’s eyes on the biggest prize of all, ARM. Various news sites around the Internet, including Engadget and TUAW, are reporting a proposed deal around $8 Billion USD that would see the Cupertino giant acquire one of the biggest prizes in the mobile processor space.

To understand the magnitude of such a deal, you need to understand what purchasing ARM would mean. ARM Holdings, as the company is formally known, designs and manufactures processors and systems on a chip for many of the large companies in the mobile space. It either directly creates or licenses its designs to Microsoft, Nokia, Apple, and a host of other top corporations. ARM processors run the iPhone and iPad as well as the mobile devices of some of Apple’s key competitors.

It’s easy to see then that Apple’s motivation in buying ARM would be twofold. First, they would acquire the largest single manufacturer of mobile processors in the world. They could ensure a long term supply of processors for their iPad, iPhone, and any future mobile device platforms. They would no longer be beholden to an outside organisation for a key component. With the design know-how brought in-house, they could also dictate the design and function of future processors. If there’s anything Apple strives for, it is control over every aspect of the product development process. As TUAW points out in their article:

Last January, Apple COO Tim Cook stated, ‘We believe we need to own and control the primary technologies behind the products we make.’

The second motivation may be a tad bit more Machiavellian. By purchasing ARM, Apple puts itself in control of the fates of the mobile processors of their competition. While they would probably never dare to completely cut off their competition, they would certainly place themselves in a position where Apple benefited the most from the expertise and capabilities of ARM. And of course, they would be happy to make a profit off the backs of Microsoft and Nokia.

What do you think of an Apple-owned ARM? Would they become an unstoppable juggernaut by controlling every aspect of the design and manufacturing process of their devices? Do you think Apple should be allowed to purchase and consolidate a company like ARM? Leave us a comment and let us know.