Did Apple place chipset orders for a January Verizon iPhone 4 launch?

TechCrunch is claiming that the ever popular “sources with knowledge of the situation” have told them that Apple has submitted an order to Qualcomm for millions of CDMA chipsets to supply a Verizon iPhone 4 manufacturing run this December:

This production run would likely be for a January launch, and I’d bet the phone is nearly 100% consistent with the current iPhone 4 (with a fixed internal insulator on the antenna).

They suggest CES 2011, where Verizon’s CEO is scheduled to keynote, ..read more

Updated: HP applies for PALMPAD trademark, will include stylus?

HP is applying for a trademark on the term PALMPAD which shows they not only intend to compete with Apple in the tablet space, but perhaps to compete with iPad in almost the same branding terms.

No surprise there. Back when iSlate was thought to be the name for Apple’s tablet, Steve Ballmer bounded up onto the CES stage flourishing an HP Slate.

Letting Apple do the hard work of establishing consumer awareness for new product categories and then glomming onto their ..read more

Regarding Apple A4 Using iPhone 3GS Cortex A8 Processor

The interwebs are once again lit up with speculation about the iPad’s new Apple A4 chipset, this time because Ars Technica is saying that instead of the next-generation multicore ARM Cortex A9 unveiled at CES 2010, the iPad is using a variation of the last-generation AR Cortex A8 that powers the 2009 iPhone 3GS.

This is based on 1) Apple being secretive about the chipset and not bragging like other companies would 2) “multiple sources who are certain for different reasons ..read more

iPad A4 Chipset Uses PowerVR SGX Graphics Core

The iPhone 3.2 SDK for iPad has officially outed the PowerVR SGX as the graphics core inside Apple’s A4 chipset:

Using OpenGL ES on iPad is identical to using OpenGL ES on other iPhone OS devices. An iPad is a PowerVR SGX device and supports the same basic capabilities as other SGX devices. However, because the processor, memory architecture, and screen dimensions are different for iPad, you should always test your code on an iPad device before shipping to ensure performance ..read more

Motorola XH1 Bone-conducting Bluetooth Headset for iPhone

Phil and I got a demo of the Motorola XH1 Bluetooth headset [$109.95 (30% off!) - TiPb Store Link] at CES 2010 and I’ve been road testing it ever since. The real in-ear, bone-conducting technology was intriguing, and since I really liked the Moto H17, I was curious to see how this one would stack up. So, let’s take a look after the break!

Technology

The Motorola XH1 fights the war against noise with three levels of technology. It will normally cancel ..read more

Textfree SMS for iPhone, iPod touch hits 1 Billion Messages Served in 10 Months

Pinger sent us word that their Textfree [$5.99 - iTunes link] for iPhone and iPod touch, which lets US users send and reply to SMS, has hit 1 billion messages delivered in just 10 months.

Now, we don’t usually run metrics announcements here at TiPb, but I don’t usually come back from CES with $45 in SMS charges either (billed at $0.80 each since I was roaming). Would that they would internationalize it!

If you’ve used Textfree or another SMS-alternative, how ..read more

TiPb Give-Away: Music Skins Beatles Limited Edition Collector’s Set (8 iPhone and iPod Skins!) and More!

Music Skins make premium vinyl adhesive skins for iPhone and iPod that protect from scuffs and scrapes without being all bulky about it, and while they features tons of artists, their big release right now is the Beatles. That’s right, your iPhone can get the Fab Four on the outside before the iTunes Store offers them inside!

We’ll take a look — and start our give-away — after the break!

If you haven’t used a vinyl skin before, the process is simple ..read more

Otterbox Commuter, Commuter TL for iPhone — TiPb @ CES 2010

If in previous years you found yourself thinking Otterbox’s tank-style Defender was too much armor, and their Impact just not quite tank-like enough, at CES 2010 they showed TiPb a middle-ground that some of you might find just right — the Commuter series.

In both regular and TL (translucent, a reference to the clear strip across the back) versions, they’re aiming it squarely at the urban warrior who wants as much protection as possible while still maintaining a slim, pocketable profile.

Check ..read more

Cocoon Grid-It and Fastback — TiPb @ CES 2010

At CES 2010, Cocoon Innovations went from dipping a toe into iPhone waters with their new, windowed, messenger-style netbook bag to diving straight in with the secret-in-the-turtleshell Fastback cases.

The netbook case has a transparent pocket to showoff your iPhone or iPod touch, and inside features their really interesting looking Grid-It organizer, which can also safely and snuggly stow your iPhone or iPod inside.

The Fastback is an iPhone case that opens in the back to reveal an ample amount of ..read more

Case-Mate Go Bare for iPhone — TiPb @ CES 2010

After being Barely There last year, at CES 2010 TiPb wanted to know how much slimmer Case-Mate could go — turns out they could go Bare. You read that right, one of the big products on display for Case-Mate in 2010 was their entry into the iPhone skin market, and the twist is their version doesn’t require any application liquid, you just peel and apply.

Video of the skin being applied, after the break. And if you’re the guy who made ..read more

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