The countdown is over. See our updates below for the IPhone 5 specifications.

There are rumors already circling stating that it’s just going to be called the iPhone 5. Do you think so? We will find out shortly for sure. There have been numerous leaks ahead of Wednesday’s event, from individual components like screen size guestimates and dock plugs to full-fledged prototypes of the iPhone. Of course, all of these remain suspect until Apple makes it official. Some leaks even suggest that there will be new lineups for the Apple iPod but we don’t know for sure until about another hour and a half.

The press conference, which is expected to bring Apple’s next iPhone, takes place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in downtown San Francisco and kicks off at 10 a.m. Pacific. CNET just so happens to be there and they have created a live blog for you to follow. Click here to see the blog updates. They will also be running live commentary from editors Molly Wood, Brian Tong and Donald Bell beginning at 9 a.m. PT. Some of you may want to see the live feed from Apple themselves but that’s not going to happen. There’s no live video of the presentation itself, which is the usual for Apple’s events so CNET is helping out by blogging it for us all to see.

To all the Apple lovers, what do you expect to see in the next iPhone? What would you like to see? Are you waiting patiently for the event to start? We sure are and we will be following CNET’s blog to get the best details. After you collect all of the information and feel like you need to share your opinion, come right back here and let’s talk about it. We want to know if you were shocked, surprised, excited etc. How does this big event today make you feel?

Source: CNET

[UPDATED]

Here’s what has gone on so far at the live event and what you can expect in the new IPhone 5:

• Name – Iphone 5
• Operating System – IOS 6
• Shipping – Possibly October 5th
• Made entirely of glass and aluminum with a metal backing
• Thinnest and lightest Iphone so far
• 7.6mm thick (18% thinner than the IPhone4)
• 20% lighter
• Retina display with a 4″ screen size
• 1136 x 640 resolution
• Old applications run letter boxed
• 44% more color saturation in the screen
• Ultra fast wireless
• LTE Support – Verizon, At&t and Sprint
• Max 100MBPS download speeds
• Single chip for voice and data
• A6 processor two times faster graphics and CPU, which is 22% smaller and more energy efficient
• Time shifted multi-player
• 8MP camera and a front facing camera (face time over cellular networks)
• Dynamic low light mode for camera
• 40% faster image capture in the camera
• Camera will have panorama mode
• Camera creates up to a 28 megapixel image
• Take photos while recording!!
• 3 microphones
• New, 80% smaller USB connector called “Lightning”
• Apple created adapters to work with the older accessories
• Turn by turn navigating from Siri
• Safari gets full screen mode

Do these specifications make you happy? Let us know how you feel in the comment section below.

The press release looks pretty promising but we just wish the date of release was listed. Samsung did say this about US availability:

Samsung Mobile is planning a U.S. version of Galaxy Note II, which will be available later in 2012. Building on the success of the original Galaxy Note, we’re confident that the Galaxy Note II continues to redefine what consumers should expect from their smartphone and delivers a powerful, innovative and unique experience. Exact timing and retail channel availability is not being announced at this time, we will continue to share information as it becomes available.

 Below you will find a screenshot of specific details about the Samsung Note II:

Do you have T-Mobile service or the Samsung Note? Do you plan on grabbing it as soon as it comes available? We would like to know if so and also let us know what you think about the specifications on the Samsung Note II. If you aren’t a member here yet, join by clicking here.

Source: TmoNews

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Today at Google I/O 2012, the company revealed its new device — a 7-inch Nexus tablet running Android’s newest operating system flavor, 4.1 Jelly Bean. The pint-sized slate was manufactured by Asus, known for making other Android tablets including the Transformer and the Transformer Prime.

The device has a 1280 x 800-pixel high-definition display, made with reading and watching videos in mind. It has a speedy Tegra 3 with a quad-core processor under the hood, front-facing camera for video chat, 9 hours of video playback — compared to the iPad’s 10-hour playback life — and 300 hours of standby battery time. The tablet weighs 340 grams, which is about as much as a paperback.

It features tighter integration with Google Play, with content being front and center, similar to how the Amazon Kindle Fire functions. Due to this, Google Play now has a new 3D magazine app with s tablet-optimized articles that renders well on the Nexus 7’s screen.

Nexus 7 will also be the first device that ships with Chrome as its native browser — Chrome, despite being Google’s browser, hasn’t been available on Android until a beta version of it was introduced for Ice Cream Sandwich devices. Google has also overhauled Google Maps with additional information and review features which can predict which restaurants you’ll likely enjoy. Offline maps will also be a hotly sought-after feature, and now that Apple and Microsoft are touting similar features, it’s an important bullet point to have.

Preorders for the teensy Google Nexus 7 tablet begins today. You can order the new tablet from the Google Play store with two price tiers — $199 for the 8GB model and 16GB version — making it a true Kindle Fire competitor. It will start shipping in mid July. The Kindle Fire lands at a similar price point, but with its apps governed largely by what Amazon declares suitable for its shop, the Nexus 7 will have everything the Fire has, and then some. Despite similar hardware specs — screen size, screen resolution, etc — the Nexus will offer a much more genuine Android experience from a software standpoint.

Google is clearly making a play for potential iPad customers with this sleek, streamlined device, and with a price tag of less than half of the base model Apple tablet, the company may have a real shot at success. $499 gets you a 16GB iPad with a 9.7-inch Retina display, but if ultra-sharp screen resolution and a few more gigs of storage aren’t a big deal, the 7-inch Nexus slate will be much easier on your pocketbook.

Of course, it’s unclear how Microsoft’s Surface device will shake up the consumer tablet market. With a physical keyboard and Windows 8-esque software design, it seems like Android and iOS devotees will already have their minds made up between the iPad and the Nexus 7.

https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_7_8gb&feature=single-wide-banner

Source: http://tinyurl.com/ppcgeeks

Apple has requested permission from a US federal district court to file a motion for preliminary injunction against the sale of Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S III handset. Samsung recently announced that the device would launch later this month, and Apple is wasting no time trying keep that from happening.

Apple’s motion was entered on Tuesday, according to FOSS Patents, just ahead of a scheduled hearing regarding a preliminary injunction against Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus smartphone. The company says the Galaxy S III infringes on a patent related to its Siri-powered unified search—the Galaxy S III has a similar feature called “S Voice”—as well as a patent related to “data detectors.”

Apple was granted an import ban against HTC smartphones over this same “data detectors” patent. It is related to a feature that automatically recognizes certain data types—such as addresses or phone numbers—and turns them into clickable links that optionally perform a map lookup, dial a phone number, or do some other action. HTC ultimately removed the feature from its latest devices to work around the ban.

Apple’s motion is likely to be discussed at the hearing on Thursday. Apple’s earlier attempt to gain an injunction against Samsung in a separate lawsuit was denied by Judge Judy Koh, who is also adjudicating the Nexus case. Apple has successfully appealed part of Koh’s ruling related to patent validity, however, and may have another chance at an injunction later.

Meanwhile, Apple and Samsung have been busy giving oral arguments before the International Trade Commission, where Judge Thomas Pender has said he will use the “Cheech and Chong” test to determine if Samsung is violating Apple’s iPhone and iPad design patents. The CEOs of both companies met recently to discuss a settlement to their ongoing mobile patent dispute, but the court-ordered mediation talks ended without a compromise in sight.

Source:http://tiny.cc/y477fw

If you have been around the various forms you will see a frenzy forming. Rumor has been that pre-orders for the Evo Lte would be shipping out tonight at 11 pm and pre-order customers are concerned. Why? Well, because Sprint hasn’t really updated any order information for their customers. Worry is setting in that the phones will be delayed and that pre-ordering really isn’t going to get the phone to the consumer any faster.

Now add rumors of delays in shipping and you have a full on mass panic. All we can say is take what you read on the internet with a grain of salt. Remember, than anyone can say anything and it will spread like wildfire. Also, remember that the official release date is the 18th. It is the 15th, we still have time for Sprint to make good on their promise that we will get it first.

It has always been my experience when dealing with Sprint that I always get the phone before I get any kind of update in their system. My personal account shows that Sprint owes me money since they have already charged my credit card for the order. I have no tracking information. Am I concerned? Sure, because I already passed on my Evo 3d to my husband and I am stuck with my daughter’s old LG at the moment. Am I’m stressing out? Not yet… but I will if this goes into the weekend. I am a phone geek after all.

I did come across this press release on 5-14-12 from Sprint and I feel that if they were concerned about stock they would not be pushing media events at a brick and mortar store.

Surely they wouldn’t stick us pre-order folks with a rain check slip and release them to the general public. Right?

As the days grow closer to the highly anticipated release of the Samsung Galaxy S3 we are seeing a lot of leaked images and renders of the device.  Here we have yet another supposedly leaked image in what appears to be a scan from the service manual for the device, along with a list of specs, which comes from an unofficial Samsung blog, SamMobile.  If you have been following all the leaks you will note that this one is an exact match for the shape teased by Samsung Denmark on Facebook last week. This could be the real deal and the actual, final design of Samsung’s new flagship phone.

Sprint has been sending out flyers in hopes to generate a lot of interest in what it hopes to be one of its new flag ship devices the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. With the Samsung Galaxy S3 on the horizon I am not convinced that many will jump from there current device to the Nexus, but only time will tell. I will be attending the event for PPCGeeks bringing you live coverage.

It’s been what seems like an eternity since Google stopped selling the Nexus One directly through google.com. Google struggled with support and logistics involved with selling a consumer electronic, and shelved the concept, instead offering its next Nexus device, the Nexus S, through retail partners. In a surprise move today, the search giant has resumed selling devices directly, this time with the Galaxy Nexus GSM/UMTS unlocked model.

Samsung Galaxy S II handsets not tied to a specific carrier no longer have to wait for their Android 4.0 upgrade. According to a tweet from Samsung’s UK Twitter account, unlocked Galaxy S II phones can now download and install the software, known as Ice Cream Sandwich. Orange and T-Mobile customers with a Galaxy S II in Europe remain on Android 2.3, but Samsung says these will “follow as soon as possible.”

SlashGear caught the tweet and notes that the Android 4.0 upgrade can be found through Samsung’s Kies software. Here in the U.S., carriers typically push the software over the air after they’ve tested and tweaked the platform. For that reason some people purchase unlocked handsets, with the reasonable thought that these would be among the first to see updates. Unfortunately, with the Galaxy S II that hasn’t been the case as some carrier models already received Android 4.0.

Along with the updated Google Android software, Samsung has added a Face Unlock feature; similar to that found on stock Android 4.0 devices, such as the Galaxy Nexus. Also included is Samsung’s latest TouchWiz user interface to correspond with Google’s own software updates. It appears that Samsung is pushing the updates out ahead of a May 3 product launch event; likely to be the Galaxy S III.

Source: GIGAOM

Pocketnow has an image it says might be the rumored new Nexus line of tablet.

Take a look and see if you think it’s a sure fake or if it’s the real thing.  The debate rages as to whether it’s Samsung or Asus, 7.7″ or 10″.

When Google does actually drop the Nexus tablet, it might be some good competition for the iPad that has dwarfed the industry.  As you can see from the image it has all google apps and no indication as to any proprietary apps from a different vendor.  It also is plainly running ICS.  We’ll soon see when the tablet is actually released.

The latest Nielsen survey released shows some pretty amazing trends in the cell phone industry. First to note is that smartphones now account for 50% of all phone purchases in the U.S., marking a 38% increase over last year at this time. According to Nielsen, this growth is attributed to increasing smartphone adoption, with more than two thirds of the phones purchased in the last three months being smartphones.

What could be considered even more of a telling sign of things to come are the numbers per platform. Android remained unchanged with 48% of the market share, with iOS coming in at 43% and the remaining 9% comprised of RIM, Nokia and Microsoft. The increase of iOS and the unchanged share of Android smartphones in the survey show that these two powerhouses form nothing short of a duopoly in smartphone purchases, in the U.S. RIM slipped to an all time low of 5% with all ofthers comprising the remaining 4%.

While Android is at the top and iOS is steadily coming up behind them, what does this leave for RIM, Nokia and Microsoft? Will they be able to survive the loss of so many new customers? Do they have something up their sleeves to turn things around or are we destined to witness their collapse in the cell phone industry? Which OS do you use and are you tempted to try anything else? If so, which ones?

Give us your thoughts below!

Source: Nielsen Survey

Samsung if finally pushing ICS to the Galaxy Sll in select countries today, then across the U.K. starting in about a week.  As far as the U.S. variants go, it will be coming along “soon.”  ICS came out about five months ago and people who own Samsung and HTC devices have been patiently waiting for their phones to get this awesome update, and it looks like Samsung is finally ready to deliver.

If you do happen to live in a country that is updating, you need to download Kies and connecting your device.

Stay tuned to see when the U.S. will get their ICS updates (or maybe Jellybean will be out by then!)

In the meantime, you can still get a tethered jailbreak on iOS5.1.  Head over to our iPhone forums on this and any other iOS question or issue you may have.

(via redmondpie)

Well, what we basically thought the new iPad was going to be is basically what it is.  Apple is calling it “the new iPad” so we’ll see if that name sticks or if you will actually have to say that when asking for it at the store.  Let’s talk specs:

*4G/LTE capable on Verizon and AT&T, and of course HSDPA and HSPA+

*5MP rear camera with “advanced optics,” all the others sensors and such, and 1080p HD recording.

*A5X dual-core CPU with a quad-core GPU means 4x the graphics performance and a faster chip while maintaining the same battery life

*Retina display at 2048×1536 means everything looks more crisp and clear and movies are going to look awesome on 3.1 million pixels.

*Form factor remains identical to the iPad2

You can get the 16GB WiFi model for $499 up to $829 for the 64GB WiFi + 3G/4G model.  This also drops the iPad2 price by $100 if you’re looking to get a good deal.  You can pre-order the new iPad online right now and be one of the first to own it, iPads generally sell out fast when they get released.

Here in the states we’ve been enjoying Windows Phone 7 for about a year and a half now.  When doing phone comparisons it is very common to refer to the “Big 3” mobile operating systems as the only ones who really matter, discounting BlackBerry OS, Symbian, and other seemingly anachronistic and obsolete systems.  The war for mobile dominance seems to be between Android, iOS, and WP7.

In China, however, this has not been the case.  One of the biggest world markets has not had any WP7 devices as of yet, and HTC is looking to rectify that when they drop the Kaixuan (meaning “triumphant return”) on mainland China later this month.  HTC is taking pre-orders for the phone on it’s online store for what comes out to $698 in USD.

The Kaixuan comes loaded with similar specs as the Titan, loaded with a 1.5GHz processor, 4.7″ screen, and 8MP rear camera.  It is powered by Windows Phone 7.5 with more localized versions of apps made specifically for Chinese consumers.

MS is trying to get their foot in the door in China, a market share of 56% Android in 2011 and Apple obviously being another key player.  The entrance of WP7 into China may boost the still new OS into better sales and more world-wide acceptance as a major player in the mobile wars.

When comparing iOS to Android in terms of how well HTML5 web rendering can be done, Spaceport.io found that iOS smokes the competition.  The Galaxy Nexus, the Android device with the latest hardware and the very latest software, did the best as far as Android devices go, but it fell very short of the iPhone 4S.  Overall, it looks like Apple is way ahead of its competition in HTML5 rendering, although everyone has a ways to go before HTML5 becomes a significant daily player.

Take a look at the comparison below to get the concept of how the two largest mobile operating systems stacked up!

(via AllThingsD)