Apple might be readying Mini iPhone

We are all looking forward to Apple’s next generation iPhone ie the iPhone 5. But now it seems that Apple is more busy preparing a Mini iPhone.

We’ve heard of such rumours ever since the launch of the iPhone 2G when people said Apple will announce a smaller device like they did for the iPod line.

This time though it seems Apple is really thinking of producing a smaller and cheaper variant of their popular iPhone to combat Google which seems to be slowly making it’s way on to devices of all price ranges.

A source has reportedly seen a prototype version of the mini iPhone firsthand. The phone is said to be around two thirds the size of the iPhone 4 and lacks a Home button.

The phone is planned to be launched in mid 2011 and it’s information is only shared among a few Apple employees. The price is said to be 200 US$ without the obligation to sign a 2 year contract.

The device will be cheaper as it will be using nearly the same components as the iPhone 4 rather than the new components of the iPhone 4 successor.

The source also said that though Apple is currently planning to launch it in mid 2011, it might even be delayed or cancelled finally since Apple often works on products that don’t get released.

Apple awarded prized touchscreen patent

Amidst ongoing legal sparing over mobile technology, Apple has won a broad patent relating to the touchscreens found on its iPhone and iPad.

Apple has locked up the patent rights on a key piece of technology that makes the iPhone and iPad so irresistible to consumers. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded Apple the patent on Tuesday. The patent is concerned primarily with the way in which Apple’s software responds to user input on the touchscreen — not simply the touchscreen itself.

Here’s the official abstract that leads the document:

“A computer-implemented method, for use in conjunction with a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display, comprises displaying a portion of page content, including a frame displaying a portion of frame content and also including other content of the page, on the touch screen display. An N-finger translation gesture is detected on or near the touch screen display. In response, the page content, including the displayed portion of the frame content and the other content of the page, is translated to display a new portion of page content on the touch screen display. An M-finger translation gesture is detected on or near the touch screen display, where M is a different number than N. In response, the frame content is translated to display a new portion of frame content on the touch screen display, without translating the other content of the page.”

Apple had applied for the patent back in 2007. In October 2009, Nokia launched a lawsuit against Apple, claiming ten different patent infringements related to the iPhone. Apple responded by filing a countersuit, citing thirteen claims of patent infringement perpetrated by Nokia. However, the two rivals may be ready to play nice. Nokia announced last week that it had reached a licensing agreement with Apple said to be worth over $600 million.

In April of this year, Apple went on the offensive by launching a lawsuit against Samsung. Apple’s suit alleged that Samsung’s popular smartphone lineup is in essence a copy of Apple’s own designs. Samsung responded predictably with a countersuit accusing Apple of violating ten patents related to its own wireless technology.

It’s not clear if Apple’s newly acquired touchscreen patent will bring about a new flurry of legal activity. But given the highly litigious nature of the tech world in 21st century, we wouldn’t be surprised if Apple’s lawyers aren’t already gearing up for yet another standoff.

4G-enabled Apple iPad 3 launching in Q4 2011

Apple’s iPad 3 will reportedly be launching in Q4 2011, according to a Hong Kong-based research company.

The tech world may be busy speculating about tonight’s WWDC keynote, but CLSA is claiming that the Apple iPad 3 will launch ahead of the holidays this year. According to the research fim, it’ll arrive touting a Retina Display – one thing that was sadly omitted on Apple’s iPad 2 – alongside an all-new “4G LTE radio”.



The firm states: “While most vendors appear fixated on matching the specs and features of iPad 2, our checks suggest Apple will release iPad 3 in time for the holiday season, sporting a better display and LTE capabilities.”

It’s not all good news, however. CLSA’s research suggests that Apple has no intention of releasing a 4G-enabled iPhone device in the near future, so we’re likely to be kept waiting until the iPhone 6.

If previous rumours are anything to go by, Apple‘s next-gen iPad could also arrive sporting a three-dimensional screen. That’s according to a “Hollywood insider”, which last month claimed that a naked-eye 3D display is a “dead cert” for the iPad 3. Or maybe even the iPad 3D.