iFixit tears down the new iPad

You could stand in line, waiting for the new iPad to come out at 8AM tomorrow. Or, you could use a little time zone trickery by flying down to Australia, being the first in line for the new iPad, and tearing it apart. And iFixit did exactly the ladder. The pictures are quite amazing; hit read more to check them out.

iPad 3 Revealed; Retina, 5MP Camera, 4G LTE

"Resolutionary". "Stunning". "Gorgeous". Whatever Apple may call their new iPad 3, it's here. Finally. And along with it; great new features.

Retina Display

As a microscopic examination proved in mid-February,  the iPad 3 has a 2048x1536 retina display with exactly four times the quality of the iPad 2's display. Checking out a cool graphic on Apple's features website shows you that you actually can tell the difference. The retina display really should change the iPad experience.

5MP iSight Camera

Rumors from NextMedia claimed that the iPad 3 would have an 8MP camera. Though the increase wasn't as dramatic, the video quality is now full HD (1080p, slightly higher quality that the iPad 3's display). And besides, the iPad 2 really needed a camera upgrade, so any upgrade at all is fine.

4G LTE

Here's some great news for frequent travelers; your internet on-the-go has received a substantial boost, as the iPad 3 now supports 4G LTE from AT&T and Verizon. It also supports high-end 3G technologies for the times when 4G isn't available, or you can use the new SIM card slot if neither are available. In addition, the device supports tethering.
 

Apple Issues Invitations to March 7 iPad 3 Media Event

Just like the rumors said, this morning Apple released invitations to their iPad 3 media event, which will be held Wednesday, March 7. Tim Cook (this time it won't be Steve Jobs...) will introduce the iPad 3 as well as an upgraded Apple TV at 10:00 AM Pacific (1 PM Eastern). The cleverly written tagline on the photo below says "We have something you really need to see. And touch." And just like last year, the invitation shows an iPad with the calendar app on the date of the event.

The picture serves as another confirmation of the retina display with its amazingly sharp screen. The iPad 3 should also have an A5X or A6 processor, 4G LTE capability, and maybe even an 8 MP camera. For the impatient people that can't possibly wait an entire week for the event, check out the iPad 3 rumor roundup Tech n' Cars made.

Google Goggles Could Become Real

Google Goggles are obviously only virtual goggles, and they'll stay that way. Or will they? Not if rumors inside the company are accurate.

A recent New York Times article claimed that several Google employees said that "Google Goggles" (yes, actually tangible goggles!) will be hitting the market by the end of the year at a hefty retail price of somewhere between $250 and $600. Design-wise, they'll be quite similar to Oakley Thumps (left), a discontinued product that let you listen to music on your sunglasses. Google will probably try to make their glasses less bulky, for that was one factor that lead to the downfall of Oakley Thumps (notice the huge speakers on either side of the sunglasses)

But what really will make these glasses stand out will be their features. There will be a built-in low-resolution camera in the front of the glasses. The camera will be used for object and location identification. According to one unnamed Google employee, "you will be able to check into locations with your friends through the glasses." Obviously, there'll be major privacy issues with your glasses recording everything, and moreover, everyone, you see, so that might take some time for Google to sort out.

The glasses will also be able to work seamlessly with other Google features like Google Cloud, Latitude, Goggles, and Maps. Information will be displayed with a "Heads-Up Display," whatever that could mean. How about navigation? Well, these glasses will have quite unique navigation, to say the least. Apparently, one of the controls will be tilting your head to scroll and click. This may seem complicated, but Seth Weintraub from 9 to 5 Google says "We are told it is very quick to learn and once the user is adept at navigation, it becomes second nature and almost indistinguishable to outside users." I guess it was only a matter of time before the world of technology entered our glasses...

Picture of iPad 3 Part With "A5X" Processor Shows Itself

Lately, there have been a lot of photoshopped pictures of iPad 3 parts circulating around the web. So when we hear about a picture of an iPad 3 with an "A5X" processor, "Photoshop" is pretty much the first word that pops into our minds. Yet, look at the picture. It's so clear, and the reflection of the light on the bubble wrap looks perfect. The date code's number, 1146, means it was produced in the 46th week of 2011, corresponding to November 16-20. This is approximately when construction on the iPad 3 began. And yes, the processor's name is A5X.

This picture showed up yesterday on the Chinese site Weiphone. It appears to be the processor and part of the memory unit of the upcoming iPad 3. Currently, the iPhone 4S, iPad 2, and 5th generation iPod Touch all sport A5 processors. So, it was expected that the iPad 3 would see an A6 processor. But this picture suggests that the change in processor speed would be more minor, just as an iPhone 4S would be a more minor change than an iPhone 5.

But what could this tell us about the iPad 3? Well, if the changes in the processor are minor, it could be that it becomes quad-core, but the GHz stay the same. Or maybe the GHz goes up from 1 to 1.5, but it stays dual-core. Either way, if this picture is in fact correct, this certainly changes our predictions about the iPad 3. Sure, you could just wait 16 days for the media event, but waiting is hard when it's for something like an iPad...

LG Optimus Vu: Wide Display, Wowing Specs

Sure, Mobile World Congress is starting up in just one week, but some companies don't have that kind of patience when they make a breakthrough product. That's exactly what happened with LG. Inspired by the Samsung Galaxy Note, they hoped that people would catch on to the new trend, but put their own twist on the super-sized smartphone by making a 4:3 aspect ratio.

The picture above that LG released tells us a lot about the phone. First, the display is quite unique. Not only does it have a 4:3 aspect ratio (bad for movies, but maybe better for web), it has a super-sharp 1024x768 5" IPS LCD display.

Rumor has it that the thing also has mind-blowing specs; a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, an 8 MP rear-facing camera, 4G LTE, and Android 2.3 all packed in a 8.5 mm thin case. Luckily, LG says the device will be updated with Ice Cream Sandwich around late-May. If you like its look, check out a photo gallery.

iPad 3 Event On March 7; Quad-Core, LTE, Retina

iMore reported that the iPad 3 will be announced on March 7, and Jim Dalrymple, one of the most reliable sources about Apple Rumors, has confirmed the date. It also claims that the three most important new features of the iPad 3 will be a Quad-Core A6, 4G LTE from AT&T and Verizon, and a Retina Display. Tech n' Cars goes into detail on each one:

Quad-Core A5X: Of the three rumors listed by iMore, this one is the only one we aren't quite sure of. When the report came out, it called the iPad's new processor an A5X, but an image circulating around the web (to the right) shows an "A5X" processor inside the iPad, with a date code "1146", meaning it was produced in the 46th week of 2011, which corresponds, to November 14-20. This is about when production on the iPad 3 began. The picture made us at least 80% sure of this feature. Remember when everyone was going crazy about the iPad 2's new ultra-fast dual core processor? Well, I have no idea what people will be thinking when four cores go in the processor of this thing...

4G LTE: LTE, which stands for Long Term Evolution, is a new type of network that is significantly faster than 3G. This has been rumored for a long time, and Wall Street Journal recently confirmed the rumors. The iPad 3 will also be equipped with 3G or Edge so that when 4G isn't available, you can still "fallback to a slower network technology." We don't know if you'll be able to get one iPad that can run on either AT&T's network or Verizon's network or if you'll only be able to access one on an iPad.

Retina Display: Many people were disappointed when we were so sure that the iPad 2 would have a retina display last year, yet it didn't. We were so sure because even Apple was planning for a retina display, but they didn't have enough equipment. Well, Apple won't fail you again, because this time we're certain about a 2048x1536 retina display, because MacRumors confirmed the rumor by examining an iPad 3 display under a microscope.

Could the iPad 3 Sport an 8 MP Camera?

NextMedia recently received a photo from "channeled sources" of the iPad 3's back shell. Taking a close look at the picture can help reveal what might be included in the next iPad 3.

The first thing most people notice is that the iPad's shell is tapered much more gradually, which likely will result in a more smooth and sleek feel. Interestingly, Apple made the exact opposite change a few years back when they changed the iPhone 4's body to look more boxy, as opposed to the curve on the edges of the iPhone 3GS.

But, the more exciting aspect of the picture is about the camera. The position of the camera has only shifted a tiny bit to the right, but look at its size difference as compared to the iPad 2. It's significantly larger. This goes along with a rumor that the iPad 3 might sport a 8 MP camera.

The story of the iPad's camera goes back a long way. After the hype of the first iPad's release two years back, many people were disappointed not to see a camera in the front or the back. The iPad 2 came out a year later with a camera, but the resolution was so awful Apple wouldn't disclose it's exact quality. The back camera turned out to have only 1 MP quality, and the front camera 0.3 MP. Some people wanted better quality, but others were satisfied because tablets aren't usually the primary device used to take pictures and videos. But, Apple has been adamantly increasing quality on the iPhone camera despite similar ideas. The iPhone 3GS saw an increase to 3 MP, the iPhone 4 up to 5 MP, and finally up to 8 MP with the 4S.

Yet, camera technology is increasing, and my feelings are that because it is now possible to pack very high-quality cameras into very tight spaces, Apple should feel free to increase the quality of the iPad's camera.

iPad 3 to Arrive In March with LTE, Quad-Core Processor, and Retina Display?

A series of reports from rather reliable sources such as Bloomberg and Macotakara claims Apple's manufacturing partners are working 24 hours a day so that Apple will be able to launch the iPad 3 in March. Not only do the reports claim that the device will sport a retina display that will make some graphics look as clear as printed copies (we're almost sure of this because of how many reports it's been in), they claim that a quad-core processor will be used to speed up the iPad 3 dramatically. Also, a new graphics processor will be so quick that videos will begin to play almost instantly.

The only thing the reports can't seem to agree on is the form factor. Some say that Apple is adopting Sharp's IGZO technology to allow for a thinner iPad, while others say Apple has turned down Sharp's offer, and will be sacrificing a little thickness in order to use high resolution IPS displays from Samsung and LG.

Arguably the most exciting piece of information is that Apple will be bringing LTE to the iPad 3. Apple will bring this technology to the iPad before the iPhone because the iPad has a bigger battery, so it can maintain a longer battery life while LTE is in use.

iPad 3 Could be Launched by Steve Jobs's Birthday, February 24.

New reports claim that Apple is trying to push manufacturing partners to get on track to launch the iPad 3 on Steve Jobs's birthday, February 24. This is especially likely considering that last year, the MacBook Pros were launched on Steve Jobs's birthday, though some speculate that the date was picked because it was right before the Presidents Day weekend. Here is a quote from FocusTaiwan's report:

A local Chinese-language newspaper reported Friday that iPad 3 might be launched on Feb. 24 to mark the anniversary of the birth of Apple's late co-founder Steve Jobs.

Citing sources close to Taiwanese makers in the iPad 3 supply chain, the Economic Daily News said the gadget could be launched in mid-first quarter of next year or by the end of next March.

Even if the iPad 3 isn't launched by Steve Jobs's birthday, it will probably be released in March or early-April. Rumors are not agreed on the release date of the iPad 3; some say late February, others mid-March, and a few early-April. However, if we have to wait longer than February, the wait should be worth it. The iPad 3 will be equipped with a retina display and Siri.

iPhone 5, iPad 3 Release Dates and Rumors!

Yes, the iPhone 4S just came out and the iPad 2's sales aren't declining any time soon, but we're already talking next generation here at Tech n' Cars. That's because iLounge says its "most reliable source" has given the website some very interesting facts about the next generation iDevices.

iPhone 5: Some say the iPhone 4S was a disappointment because it didn't include many of the features it was rumored to have. Well, don't worry folks; you'll see most of these features in the iPhone 5. One feature that we're pretty sure the iPhone 5 will have is the 4" screen and thinner bezel that the iPhone 4S was supposed to have. While supporting the larger screen, the iPhone's length will only increase by 8mm. And don't worry; this iPhone's coming quick; (no, not another 1 year 4 month delay that we saw with the iPhone 4S update) Apple is rumored to be launching the iPhone 5 in June or July 2012, which would be only 8 or 9 months after the iPhone 4S.

iPad 3: It doesn't look like we'll be getting that "iPad 2 Plus" by the end of the year that some earlier rumors spoke of, but we should be getting a full-blown iPad 3 in March 2012, featuring a retina display. Apple will use a dual light bar system for the higher quality display, and this will make the new iPad 8% thicker than the iPad 2.

A recent report from Taiwan Economic News claims that TSMC has began production of Apple's next generation processor, the A6. This processor is rumored to include some of TSMC's latest processor technology like 28-nanometer process and 3D stacking tech... sounds fancy! This processor might be found in the next iPad, but because we've heard production of the next iPad has already started, it will probably appear in the 4th iPad.

In the previous two years, it was Samsung who manufactured the A4 and A5. However, Apple has decided to change to TSMC, maybe because Samsung "copied their products", as Apple claims in their lawsuits against Samsung.

Apple to sell iPhone 4S alongside iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS?

BGR reports that Apple will begin shipping the iPhone 4S in late August alongside the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 3GS. While the iPhone 4S will maintain the normal $200 price, the iPhone 4 will be discounted to $50 or $100, and the iPhone 3GS will be sold for only $350 without a contract, or for free with a 2-year contract. This will allow Apple to sell smartphones in the high, medium, and low price ranges.

As for the iPhone 4S, I'm guessing it won't be much of an improvment over the iPhone 4 because if it was case designers probably would've leaked a new case by now. However, it may have an 8MP camera, an A5 processor, and iOS 5, all of which are fair improvments.

The next iPad

In October, the next iPad will come out. Manufacturers are starting production. We do not know what the name of this iPad will be, but here are the three options:

iPad 3: This iPad could be the iPad 3, a completely new iPad with a retina display and other features we have yet to hear about. But, the only thing wrong with this theory is this picture:


iPad 2 Plus: So that picture suggests that it won't be an iPad 3. Well, what if it's a slightly upgraded version of the iPad 2, just a little thinner, a little lighter and with a retina display, named an "iPad 2 Plus?", similar to the case of the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 3GS? Many analysts are suggesting this theory.

iPad HD: The third theory is that Apple will make a slightly more expensive "iPad HD", an iPad 2 with a retina display and apps such as Final Cut Pro and Aperture, and sell it alongside the iPad 2. This case is more similar to the MacBook and MacBook Pro.

Whatever the name may be, I expect (and hope) that the next iPad will be worth buying, and I certainly will buy it if it is!

iPhone 5 to have A5 processor and 8MP camera. Main selling point will be iOS 5

Ming-Chi Kuo of Concord Securities recently talked with sources in Apple's supply chain to find out about the iPhone 5. So, Tech n' Cars can provide you with a good deal of iPhone 5 details.

Kuo heard that the iPhone 5 would have the same 1GHz dual-core processor found in the iPad 2. It will also have an 8MP rear camera (we already heard that one before), an improved antenna, and a Qualcomm baseband. Kuo says that the iPhone 5 will be released at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference, scheduled for June 6-10.

He also heard that the earthquake and tsunami in Japan resulted in a shortage of supplies. He thinks that there is a good chance the 5th generation iPod Touch will not come out in September due to this.

Kuo did not hear anything about a hybrid LCD/e-Ink display or 3D screens/cameras. I am expecting the 3D to appear on the iPhone 6, and the LCD/e-Ink display to come on the iPhone 6 or 7.

You may be disappointed because the iPhone 5 doesn't seem to be so much better than the iPhone 4. Kuo says that the best new feature of the iPhone 5 will be its new operating system, iOS 5. He says the dramatic hardware change will appear on the iPhone 6, not the iPhone 5. The goal of this iPhone 6 will be to compete with rival Android phones featuring their mind-blowing specs.

Samsung plans to release phones with a 2GHz dual-core processor!

How would you like it to have a phone that responds to your commands almost instantly, and runs huge programs without a problem? And what if that phone had a dual-core 2GHz processor? Well, by next year, Smasung will make this phone a reality! The Maeli Business Newspaper reports a Samsung official has said that they are planning on offering a dual-core Android smartphone with a 2GHz processor. 2GHz on each core! Samsung also will sell these chips seperately to make any device rocket-fast.

White iPhone 4 to debut April 26

iPhoneItalia has claimed that on April 26, the white iPhone 4 will be released! Here is a translation of part of the Italian blog's post:

"Thanks to information we received from a reliable source, we can reveal the possible date on which the long awaited white iPhone 4 will arrive in Italy and fill the first stores. The launch might take place in ten days, April 26, 2011."

You can read the full post here.

Future iPhones to include screen that changes between e-Ink and LCD!

Patently Apple has just discovered that in 2009, Apple patented a "Hybrid e-Paper/Video iOS Display," which might be found on future iPhones. This amazing display will be able to switch between an e-Ink display found on Amazon's Kindle and other e-readers and an LCD display found on current iPhones! The program will be so smart that it will change display types depending on the type of content you are using! Amazon used their e-Ink display as their biggest advantage over Apple's iPad and even ran TV ads about it. But if this display does appear in the iPhone and iPod Touch and spreads to the iPad, Apple could expect huge sales boosts.

Next iPod Nano to keep tiny form, but add camera!

The 6th generation Nano was a horrible move by Apple. I had faith in Apple, however, that they would correct it and bring back the scrollwheel, camera, video playback, and larger screen. Unfortunately, when Apple releases the next iPod Nano in early September, they are going to keep the tiny 1.4" touchscreen. However, they will add a camera. The image above was sent to Apple.Pro recently. It shows the same design, yet a camera on the back. But how are you going to take pictures and videos with a devices this tiny? How good can the resoloution be? Apple still has not corrected their mistake.

Later iPhones to have 3D screen?

Apple has recently filed a patent relating to using multiple cameras on a future iPhone for taking 3D photos and videos. This matches up with a rumor that the iPod Touch 5 will have a glasses-free 3D screen. So many people have said Apple is slow to approach new fads like 3D, and will never make a 3D screen so soon. But this is real proof from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office!