iPad 3 Update, Rumor Roundup, and More

It’s no secret that the iPad 3 is in the works by Apple, but it does seem that Apple is trying to keep almost every other aspect of it secret. Because countless rumors have been spread and leaked, it is nearly impossible to predict what features the iPad 3 will actually hold.

One of the most popular rumors state that it will boost 4G LTE compatibility. This, of course, would only be available for Verizon users. Yet another says that the iPad 3 may even be the first real 3D tablet, in which case Apple will probably use similar technology to the HTC Evo 3D. This will be highly improbable, though, due to Apple already having trouble with retina display.

One thing that is constantly changing for this upcoming Apple device is the release date. Originally, the iPad 3 was thought to be released simultaneously with the iPhone 4S/5, but this theory has been confirmed as incorrect. Since then, it has been delayed and scheduled to be released in early 2012.

Some people fear for the future of this project and Apple itself after Steve Jobs resigned from his position as CEO of Apple, but he will still serve as chairman for the company, overlooking the iPad 3 and making sure it stays true to it’s original design. Since leaving his prime spot in the company, the Apple stock has dropped, illustrating just how powerful Steve Jobs was. New CEO, Tim Cook, may not be as iconic or recognizable, but if the iPad 3 is successful, he could very well be the new face of Apple. Experts say he should have the skills to lead Apple just as well, if not better, than Steve Jobs, but only time will tell how big of an impact he will have on the company.

We are still quite far from the unveiling and actual release of the iPad 3, and until then, we can only dream of what features it may bring to the table. Retina display has already been confirmed, so it may just be a matter of time before more features are confirmed, and we slowly piece it together. What features do you want most on the iPad 3?

BlackBerry PlayBook receives certification for US government use

The BlackBerry PlayBook may not have exactly won over consumers en masse, but it looks like RIM can now at least put a feather in its cap when it comes to one of its key customer bases: government agencies. The company announced today that the PlayBook is the first tablet to receive the so-called FIPS 140-2 certification which, according to RIM, means that the US federal government can "buy with confidence knowing that the PlayBook meets their computing policy requirements for protecting sensitive information." Of course, those agencies will still need to make sure to supply a BlackBerry smartphone as well so folks can access some of that information -- although this may be one instance where that's considered to be more of a feature than an omission.

Sprint Keeps Quiet About the Latest Rumors, iPhone 5 to Have Smaller Display

Sprint Employees Not Allowed to Talk About the iPhone 5

According to Sprint Feed, Sprint employees have received a memo instructing them on how to deal with customers who are asking if they will carry the iPhone, or when the iPhone 5 will be released. The employees are permitted to acknowledge rumors that have spread through the media, like the article in Wall Street Journal which says that Sprint will carry the iPhone 5, and to refer the customer to Sprint.com Newsroom for the latest info.

The rumors that Sprint will carry the iPhone 5 has been around for some time now, but so far, neither Sprint or Apple have confirmed or denied this. This latest development will only make customers more restless, as the predicted launch date is almost here and we’re not even sure who will carry it yet. The iPhone is currently only available from Verizon and AT&T; the addition of Sprint as the 3rd iPhone carrier will make a lot of iPhone fans happy.

iPhone 5′s Display to Be Smaller than 4 Inches

A new rumor contradicting the previous “4.2 inches screen” old one has surfaced, courtesy of DigiTimes. According to their source, a big panel supplier, the upcoming device’s screen will measure less than 4 inches and will be somewhere in the 3.5-3.7 inch range.

If the newest rumors are true, and the new iPhone will get a 3.5-3.7 inch display, then it may be possible that we’ll actually only see a 4S this Fall, but if they do come out with a 4.2 inch screen, the iPhone 5 will look a lot different than the current 3.5 inch display iPhone 4 and will be on par with most current smartphones.
It also looks like the back side design will be changed. The current reinforced glass chassis will be changed to a metal one.

Just like with any other rumor out there, no one can tell for sure how the iPhone 5 will look like, what its capabilities will be, or who will carry it besides AT&T and Verizon. Hopefully, the latest rumored release date, October 7th, will prove to be true. Until then, we can only hope that Apple will make the right decision and bring us an iPhone that will rival any other smart phone currently on the market.

Motorola Defy to T-Mobile November 3rd

We’ve seen this thing launched in Germany already, but T-Mobile was hush on a date and price for themselves, up to this point. They’ve officially “tweeted” that the Motorola Defy will be launching November 3rd for $99.99 after a two-year agreement. This phone “defies life” as it can seemingly take any and everything you could possibly dish out. (We’re not saying to go and rent a steamroller to see if it’ll hold up. Just don’t expect it to give up quickly in every day situations.)

We got some nice hands-on time with the defy at CTIA a couple of weeks ago. Be sure to check out our look at the device here. How many of you are looking to pick this up? We’re sure more than just a handful of people have left their cellphones in their jean pockets without realizing it before chucking them into the laundry.

Motorola Droid 2 Gets Overclocked

If you thought the Android hacking crowd was going to idly sit back with their Motorola Droid 2 handsets and watch as the Droid X stole all the overclocking glory, you are sorely mistaken. FreeWELL is back for the second day in a row taking the same methods used to boost the clock speeds of the X and applying them to the Droid 2 with users reaching into the stable range of 1.2-1.3GHz.

If you are the type who just loves to squeeze every ounce of power out of their Android devices than you will want to head on over to AndroidForums and read all about how to get your Droid 2 pumping at the next level.

MyTouch 4G/HD ROM Dump Roundup

Following the “dumpage” of the MyTouch HD’s (4G?) ROM the other day, lots of goodies have made their way to the internet. We were able to snag some video and crafty XDA’ers have been able to pull that video-enabled Yahoo Messenger client from the ROM to work on other devices with front-facing cameras, such as the HTC EVO 4G.

Today, we’ve learned that even more has been extracted. T-Mobile’s TV app – what most are describing as their version of Sprint TV – has been pulled from the ROM and made available to install on other devices. The app reportedly works great on the Nexus One, but might not even be functional for phones on other carriers. We’re sure XDA’s working hard to take care of that, but if you have an Android-based T-Mobile phone, it’s worth giving it a shot.

Today also brings a full port of the ROM to the Google Nexus One. Want an Android 2.2 version of Espresso-themed Sense? Then this ROM should already be on your phone. That bit of news came out courtesy of Android Central, and you can find the goods at this XDA link.

Your request is being processed... New 'iPad 2' To Be Released In Time For 2010 Holiday Season?

Will you be able to buy the next generation of Apple's iPad--equipped with FaceTime and cameras--in time for the 2010 holiday season?

Apple Insider, citing "a person with proven knowledge of Apple's future product plans," speculates that the iPad is "unlikely to endure the company's traditional 12-month product cycle for iOS device refreshes before seeing its first major enhancements."

"A version of the tablet device with a built-in video camera and support for the new FaceTime video conferencing standard has already progressed to the advanced testing stages," Apple Insider reports. "That person familiar with the company's plans claims that as of last month, there was an ambitious push inside Apple to verify the refresh for a possible launch ahead of this year's holiday shopping season."

Is this rumor to be believed? Here's what tech blogs have to say about speculation that the "iPad 2" could be out by Christmas this year.

CNET: "Typically Apple will release updates to its iPod lineup in September (as we saw last week) and then update its Mac lineup shortly thereafter. Should this latest claim pan out, recent rumors about Apple wanting to ramp iPad production to around 3 million units a month may have actually been misinterpreted and the production increase may have been due to this rumored version."

CrunchGear: The holiday release "makes sense for a number of reasons." CrunchGear cites three: First, "The iPad is limited." Second, "The wolves are (kind of) at the door." Third, "They need FaceTime devices."

Wired: "Today's ridiculous Apple rumor comes from Apple Insider. The claim? That a new FaceTime-equipped iPad will be in stores in time for the holiday season, just six months after the original launch. Bull. [...] I say this rumor is nothing but a rumor. If you want a new camera-toting iPad, wait until April."