• iPhone 5 with Larger 4-inch Screen & Metal Chassis On Track For Summer Release

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, iPhone, Rants & Raves, Rumors 3 Responses

    With the iPad 2 set to launch internationally on Friday, it’s time to set our eyes upon the next big thing, the iPhone 5′s debut in June or July. China Times is reporting that the iPhone 5 has entered trial production and is scheduled for wide scale release in Q3 of this year, which aligns with the iPhone’s traditional late June / early July release date.

    As for what the iPhone 5 will look like, the latest report supports rumors suggesting that the iPhone 5 will mostly be similar to an iPhone 4s, with the major differences being a slightly larger 4-inch touchscreen in the same form factor (accomplished by having less room between the side bezels of the device), as well as a metal chassis (Liquid Metal?) to make the device lighter and improve antenna sensitivity.

    Coupled with an A5 processor and a new aluminum back plate, it sounds like the iPhone 5 — while not quite the evolutionary leap that the iPhone 4 was — will be a bit more than just the iPhone 4s many people anticipated this generation.

    [via GadgetsDNA]

  • Why Did Apple Choose Next Thursday To Launch MacBooks?

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, News, Rumors, Steve Jobs No Responses

    It looks like Apple’s all set to launch new MacBooks next week, but the launch day is — a Thursday?

    What’s up with that? Apple’s big product launches are almost always on Tuesdays. (It allows reporters on the East Coast to fly into California on a workday instead of the weekend).

    So why would Apple launch new MacBooks on Thursday February 24?

    Perhaps because it’s Steve Jobs’ 56th birthday! Steve’s birthday is Thursday February 24.

    Last year, Apple sold its 10 billionth song on Jobs’ 55th birthday.

    Happy birthday Steve 🙂

  • New MacBook Pros Next Thursday, February 24th

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, News, Rants & Raves, Rumors 1 Response

    It’s new MacBook Pros next Thursday February 24, according to MacRumors, citing a “reliable” source.

    We’ve since heard reliable confirmation that this information is accurate and that the expected release date is next Thursday, February 24th. The move would be a bit unusual for Apple to launch new machines on a Thursday. So, if you are about to buy a new MacBook Pro, wait until next week.

    MacBooks were last updated a year ago with Intel Core i5 and i7 chips. The new machines are likely to get Intel’s latest Sandy Bridge processors, which are faster and a lot less power hungry. Rumors that the machines will have cases made of Liquidmetal are unlikely, but they will probably will be lighter, thinner and have higher-resolution screens. A big price drop is predicted too.

    Apple’s said to be releasing five new models, which will include two new 13-inch versions, two new 15-inch versions and one new 17-inch version.

    2011 MacBook Pro mockup by designer Dario Crisafulli.

  • Is Apple taking steps toward Liquid Metal?!

    // Gradly // Apple, blog 3 Responses

    Are Apple’s computers heading to a darker liquid metal from their now standard aluminum just like the bar on the Apple.com website (and Lion OS)? Perhaps, we’re not sure if the new material makes a good exterior shell. But Apple has invested into the new technology that is radio transparant and has some unique properties (like crazy bounce!). Some have noted that the change in color change of the top bar coincides with the new material’s outward appearance:

    Reports have suggested that Apple would use the liquid metal in battery cases and it was revealed before that Apple was already using the material as the SIM ejector tool in iPhones.