Rumor Alert: Two New iPhones This Year?... One For Verizon?

Here is one of the most credible iPhone rumors that Verizon customers may be interested in. According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple is in the process of developing two new iPhones for release this year. The summer release of the iPhone 4.0 isn't a shock to anyone, but a new iPhone that runs on CDMA— which is Verizon and Sprint's network of choice is said to be set for release later in the year.

This change in plan is said to be because Apple realized Verizon's upgrade to LTE (4G Network) would take longer than expected. Previously Apple was set to release their 4G LTE iPhone to Verizon next year, but delays have set that plan back.

This seems to be good news to Verizon customers who have been waiting for the iPhone, and better news to AT&T customers who love the iPhone but want to jump ship to better service. Of course this is still just a rumor, but it at least is coming from a credible source.

[WSJ]

Fourth-Gen iPhone Due Out In April?

I love iPhone rumors!!!

Especially the ones that may be true.

If the latest one is true, we could be looking at the fourth generation iPhone as soon as April. Korea Times is reporting that Apple is looking to launch the new version of the iPhone as soon as possible. This might be in response to the new competition from Verizon's Droid and the upcoming Google phone Nexus One. Typically Apple has set the launch date for iPhones at mid July, but with the introduction of newer (and some that are better) smart phones hitting on the market, it might be forcing their hand early.

Rumor has it that this latest version of the iPhone will bring more sweeping changes, such as a dual core processor (multi-tasking anyone?), OLED screens, a removable battery, 5-megapixel camera with flash, and a live video chat. These type of changes would seem to be on par with how Apple typically does business, alternating one year between hardware changes and another year for mainly software changes.

Here is to hoping that these rumors are true!!!

[Cnet]

Rumor: Microsoft Looking To Launch Windows 7 By Holiday 2009

In what has truly signaled that Windows Vista has turned into 2008 speak for Windows ME, Microsoft has (mistakenly) leaked that they have a goal to ship their new OS Windows 7 by mid-2009. Word has that Microsoft plans to have Windows 7 pre-installed on most machines for the 2009 holiday season. So come this time next year, you could have your hands on the new Windows OS.

Not so sure that this is a good thing, but perhaps abandoning Vista’s negative stigma (deserved or not) might be the way to go for Microsoft.

[Crunchgear]

New iphone 2 Spec Rumors

Alright, here we go with some semi credible iphone rumors.

According to the people at Cult of Mac, the new iphone check list will read as follows:

• 3G

• GPS

• 2 x memory (16GB and 32GB)

• 22 percent thinner

• Better battery life

All this was expected except the 22 percent thinner part which is cool. It's also said that it will be subsidized to hit the $200 mark. All will be revealed next Monday at the big Apple party.

[Cult of Mac via Crunchgear]

AT&T 3G iphone To Cost $199

Well this is certainly a good way for AT&T to keep people from running out and unlocking the new 3G iphone due out soon. According to Fortune, AT&T will subsidize the new 3G iphone as much as $200. Making the iphone as low as $200 with a soul sucking 2 year contract, which isn't that bad when you think about it. The catch is that you have to buy it from AT&T, as the 3G iphone will go for $399 and 499 for the 8GB and 16GB models at Apple stores. People who want to take their new iphone to T-Mobile or to export it will have to pay the higher price.

So buying straight from Apple will cost you extra!

Fortune's source also state that the 3G iphone does has GPS and is 2.5mm thinner, not thicker as previous reports. Fortune said that you'll know when it will ship, because Apple will cut off shipments of the original iphone to clear inventory.

Now if I could get one of those drones at Apple to tell me when shippments have stopped, my journey will be complete.

[Fortune via Gizmodo]

3G iphone To Cost $399

The rumor mill is churning again about the 3G iphone, and this time it's about price. According to tgdaily the 3G iphone which is said to be launched at the WWDC 2008, will cost $399 for the 8GB model and $499 for the 16GB. There is even talk about a 32GB model that will cost $599, although all of this is speculation.

It is also said that the new iphone will have a overhaul new look, but keep the UI and the OS that everyone loves. Personally I haven't used more than 9GB in my ipod, and that's including movies, photos, and music.

So I think the 8GB 3GB iphone will be just fine for me!!!

[tgdaily via Crunchgear]

No Lightsaber Wii-Mote For Star Wars Game

To the dismay of many Wii owners, there will not be a Wii-mote lightsaber peripheral for the rumored Star Wars lightsaber game. According to wiinintendo.net "Nintendo won’t let anyone, Lucasarts included, make any type of ‘bat-like’ peripherals for the Wiimote." It seems like Nintendo doesn’t want people smashing each other in the face with "bat-like" peripherals. Of course they don’t mind you flapping around like a moron with the little goofy controllers.

Don’t expect an officially licensed lightsaber peripheral for the Wii. [wiinintendo.net via G4TV]

GeForce 9800 GX2: Specs Leaked

In our never ending quest of extreme graphics, NVIDA comes out with it's soon to be top of the line graphics card. The GeForce 9800 GX2 is basically a 8800 that is shrunken down to 65nm and SLI'd onto one card. The card is said to be 30% faster than the 8800 Ultra, and will support Quad SLI. Check the specs:

• 1GB frame buffer
• Two PCBs
• Two 65nm GPUs
• 256 Stream Processors

No word on pricing or availability but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that it's going to be expensive.

[ PC Perspective via Engadget]

Xbox 360 "Ultimate" Coming Out?

The word on the digital street is that Microsoft is planing to build an "Ultimate" Xbox 360. So what would that entail? Check the bullet points:

• 1080p HDMI output
• built in Wi-Fi
• hi-def audio ouput
• cooler hardware
• extremely quiet fan
• built in HD-DVD drive.
• 320GB hard disk
  

The info comes from U.K.'s Stuff magazine website and they're not very clear about where they got this information. This might be just a wish list for the CES that is next week. But if it is true, this would put the Xbox 360 in the Multi-media power house bracket along with the PS3.

Being an early adopter of the Xbox 360 (last March) I'm starting to get pissed that all these cool new features are coming out, and I haven't even owned this thing for a year!!!
You need to do something for your early adopters there Microsoft, ala Apple.
[G4TV]

Metal Gear Solid 4 Coming To Xbox 360?

In a interesting turn of events, the eagerly awaited PS3 exclusive Metal Gear Solid 4 won't be so exclusive after all. Rumor from XboxFamily says that Microsoft will be getting MGS 4 for the Xbox 360 12-14 months after the release for PS3. They claim that a Konami representative allegedly said MSG 4 for the Xbox 360 has been in the works since early 2007.

Of course Microsoft isn't commenting on this at all, and told XboxFamily that leaking information is a serious matter and will be punished by the fullest extent of the law (with caining optional).

I'm sure that this event doesn't sit to well with Sony.

Metal Gear Solid 4 Coming to Xbox 360 [XboxFamily via Crunchgear]

Apple Gives Away Macbook, iPod At Company Holiday Party

In another case of why I should be working for Apple, the latest reason comes from VALLEYWAG.COM:

"Ignore PC in Apple's latest TV ad as he tries to wreck Mac's Christmas. There are no Grinches this year in Cupertino. Apple's technical employees, rumor has it, were treated very, very well at a company holiday party. As a bonus, each one got a new MacBook, an 80GB iPod, and a week off."

By the time it's all said and done, Lord Jobs is going to furnish every employee with every gadget that Apple has.

Rat bastards!

Rumor: Apple Tablet In The Works?

The long rumored and anticipated Apple tablet PC is under development with the help of Asus. Asus is one of the contract manufacturers, so this rumor is likely to be more solid than any other. I'm sure that Apple will make use of the touchscreen that seems to be all the rage in Cupertino.

According to CraveUK the tablet will be based off a totally new blueprint, but no details as of yet. And of course there are no details of when this could hit production, but I'm sure Apple fanboys have wet themselves with the thought of fondling it.

[CraveUK]

Rumor Mill: Samsung F700 Going To Verizon

Rumor mill has stopped over at Crunchgear, and word has it that Verizon will be the carrier of choice for the Samsung F700, and it should be out by years end. No word on if the phone will be available unlocked, but I sure hope so. Check the bullet points:

• HSDPA 7.2 Mbps, EDGE 900/1800/1900 MHz + 2.1 GHz
• 5 Megapixel With Auto-Focus
  
• Full Touch Screen
• Fold-out QWERTY keyboard
• Bluetooth/USB
• Full HTML Browsing
  
• microSD

[Crunchgear]

Samsung i617 Is The New Blackjack 2?

The follow up to the successful Blackback smartphone has leaked its way out. The Blackjack II is masking as the Samsung i617, and most of the details are still unknown. But it is running Windows Mobile 6, has 2-megapixel camera, and 3G HSDPA, just for fun. Soul sucking AT&T most likely will get the exclusive rights to the phone, as they did for the first Blackjack.

No word on when it will be available, but it is rumored for sometime in Q4 2007.

[mobiledia via Gizmodo]

Bundle Pack For The Wii For The Holidays?

With all of the new bundle fun that PS3 and the Xbox 360 are having, the Wii didn't want to be left out in the cold. Rumor has it that the Wii will have a new bundle for the holidays, which will include two controllers, and the Zapper all for $289.99. No word on when this may be available, but we'll keep you in the know as soon as we know.

Rumor: New Wii sku due soon [MaxCon via Crunchgear]

'Justice League' Live Action Movie Spoilers

It looks like some spoiler info has spilled out about the upcoming 'Justice League' movie. This comes from UGO blogger Patrick Sauriol, who's got a little bit of the plot details for the movie. Now I have to say this first, if you don't want to know anything about the movie, stop here:

According to Patrick a good block of the movie will center around Batman's "RedEye" where he kept detailed files on all the 'Justice Leaguers' including their identities and weeknesses, just in case he should ever have to "take them down".

This news is courtesy of Mania.

Sony: No 40GB PS3

So Sony has debunked the rumor about the 40GB entry level PS3 that everyone thought was a good idea. According to GamesIndustry.biz, Sony has shot down the rumor of the new PS3 model that was said to be announced on the Halo 3 release date.

A source at Sony Europe stated that the buzz was just "rumour and speculation". Which doesn't mean that it's not true, just not right now. Come on Sony! You need to be something to make people think about you again.

Sony dismisses £299 PS3 rumours [GamesIndustry.biz via G4TV]

Jessica Biel To Play Wonder Woman?

The upcoming 'Justice League' live action movie has had more rumors about who will play what part. It looks like Brandon Routh and Christian Bale will not be approached to play Superman and Batman, and the rumors that Tom Welling from 'Smallville' will play Superman have also been debunked.

Well it does look like Warner Bros. has there eyes on who they would like to play Wonder Woman. According to Entertainment Weekly, the studio has locked in on Jessica Biel to play Princess Diana of Themyscira.

I think this is a great choice for obvious reasons.

Read the rest here. [EW.com via Mania]

Gmail Getting Upgrade?

I've had a Gmail account since Google launched the email service in 2004. I thought it was one of the best email service available, and had I not just bought my own domain, I would've been using it exclusively.

Well, Gmail hasn't had an upgrade since its launch on April 1, 2004, and they've decided to give it a little shake up with two new features. One is called 'Google Gears Integration' which function hasn't been made clear, and the other is 'View Account Activity'. If you've ever wondered if someone was accessing your email, this will tell you how many computers or browser sessions are currently in your account and their IP address. It will also let you see pass account activity too, and will let you know if someone is taking a peek.

Not bad.

Two new Gmail features in the queue, New version of Gmail being tested [ZDNet via Crunchgear]

Update: No Bulit In HD DVD Drive Coming To Xbox 360

Well it looks like I've jump the gun a little on a previous post. Seems that Microsoft has said that the information that we had was just a misquote, and they will not be putting HD DVD drives in upcoming Xbox 360 systems in 2008. So I guess I can get off the ledge for buying my 360 to early.

Thanks to Gizmodo for this information.