Will the next iPhone have video conferencing or won’t it?

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Oh Hey Look, Another Unconfirmed iPhone Video Conferencing Rumor [IPhone]

It’s not pretty, but according to BBLeaks this is the Storm 3, also known as “Slider.” Supposedly there’s some video coming, so maybe we’ll get a better idea of what might be RIM’s newest offering soon. [BBLeaks via BGR]

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Is This Seriously the BlackBerry Storm 3 AKA Slider? [Unconfirmed]

The US Patent & Trademark Office just published Apple’s latest trademark application for “Magic Trackpad“—and, looking at a bit of history, we think it could be one of two new products.

Possibility #1

Back in July 2009, Apple was granted a patent on their multi-touch Trackpad. However, many elements of the patent were left out, including advanced infrared imaging and optical emitters which could, in essence, make your Trackpad know when you were trying to type or trying to gesture (while opening the door for all sorts of other gesture tracking possibilities across much of your laptop’s work surface).

So the Magic Trackpad could be the next Trackpad for MacBooks.

Possibility #2

But the other, more enticing rumor, was one sourced from John Gruber back in October—that Apple could be introducing a “Wildcard I’m-Not-Sure-I-Really-Believe-It-Myself Out-There Rumor…Some Sort of Mentioned-Nowhere-Else-But-in-This-Very-Headline Multi-Touch Trackpad Gadget for Desktop Macs.”

Not so long ago, another Apple trademark was uncovered called the “Magic Slate”—many believe it to be the Gruber-described device. After HP and Dell both started coining the term “slate” around CES, I wonder if “slate” fell out of vogue, meaning the “Magic Slate” became the “Magic Trackpad.”

Taking a look at the actual Trackpad trademark filing, we must admit, the longshot standalone desktop trackpad feels like a decent fit:

International Class 009: Computers; computer software; computer operating system software; computer utility software; computer hardware; computer peripherals; scanners; touchscreens; keyboards; computer mice; trackballs; trackpads; touchpads; light pens; joysticks; game controllers; graphics tablets; digitizers; cables and connectors; flash memory drives; USB drives; solid state storage devices; barcode readers.

One thing’s for certain, if a device could actually cover every one of those categories in full, it most certainly would be something magical. [Patently Apple via Macrumors]

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What Is Apple’s Magic Trackpad? [Apple]

The US Patent & Trademark Office just published Apple’s latest trademark application for “Magic Trackpad“—and, looking at a bit of history, we think it could be one of two new products.

Possibility #1

Back in July 2009, Apple was granted a patent on their multi-touch Trackpad. However, many elements of the patent were left out, including advanced infrared imaging and optical emitters which could, in essence, make your Trackpad know when you were trying to type or trying to gesture (while opening the door for all sorts of other gesture tracking possibilities across much of your laptop’s work surface).

So the Magic Trackpad could be the next Trackpad for MacBooks.

Possibility #2

But the other, more enticing rumor, was one sourced from John Gruber back in October—that Apple could be introducing a “Wildcard I’m-Not-Sure-I-Really-Believe-It-Myself Out-There Rumor…Some Sort of Mentioned-Nowhere-Else-But-in-This-Very-Headline Multi-Touch Trackpad Gadget for Desktop Macs.”

Not so long ago, another Apple trademark was uncovered called the “Magic Slate”—many believe it to be the Gruber-described device. After HP and Dell both started coining the term “slate” around CES, I wonder if “slate” fell out of vogue, meaning the “Magic Slate” became the “Magic Trackpad.”

Taking a look at the actual Trackpad trademark filing, we must admit, the longshot standalone desktop trackpad feels like a decent fit:

International Class 009: Computers; computer software; computer operating system software; computer utility software; computer hardware; computer peripherals; scanners; touchscreens; keyboards; computer mice; trackballs; trackpads; touchpads; light pens; joysticks; game controllers; graphics tablets; digitizers; cables and connectors; flash memory drives; USB drives; solid state storage devices; barcode readers.

One thing’s for certain, if a device could actually cover every one of those categories in full, it most certainly would be something magical. [Patently Apple via Macrumors]

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What Is Apple’s Magic Trackpad? [Apple]

I never knew why Brian Lam wanted lasik so badly. He just called it “Godzilla protection.” [b3ta via The Daily What]

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Why You and Everybody Else Wants Laser Eye Surgery [Comics]

Both the Incredible and Supersonic have had their leaky moments, and due to the similarities it’s difficult to tell which model is shown here. I’m leaning towards the Incredible, which is meant to be the Verizon version of the Desire.

The video’s in pretty poor quality, but you can see it’s got the same ridged back as previous photos have shown—and while the back is red, I wouldn’t read too much into that, as HTC always does colored parts for prototypes, favoring pretty basic colors for the launch. It’s definitely a US-only device, shown running Verizon Wireless—but also lacks the chin that European Android phones from HTC always have.

When I had a briefing with HTC about the Legend and Desire, they told me every Android phone destined for the European market will have a chin, with US launches lacking one.

Check out the video for a shakycam look at the Incredible (or Supersonic), and let me know what you think. There seems to be a deeper bezel on the bottom half, like the Incredible—is that where the optical trackpad is? It’s a bit hard to make out. [Phandroid]

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HTC Incredible (Or Supersonic?) Glimpsed On Video [Android]

Both the Incredible and Supersonic have had their leaky moments, and due to the similarities it’s difficult to tell which model is shown here. I’m leaning towards the Incredible, which is meant to be the Verizon version of the Desire.

The video’s in pretty poor quality, but you can see it’s got the same ridged back as previous photos have shown—and while the back is red, I wouldn’t read too much into that, as HTC always does colored parts for prototypes, favoring pretty basic colors for the launch. It’s definitely a US-only device, shown running Verizon Wireless—but also lacks the chin that European Android phones from HTC always have.

When I had a briefing with HTC about the Legend and Desire, they told me every Android phone destined for the European market will have a chin, with US launches lacking one.

Check out the video for a shakycam look at the Incredible (or Supersonic), and let me know what you think. There seems to be a deeper bezel on the bottom half, like the Incredible—is that where the optical trackpad is? It’s a bit hard to make out. [Phandroid]

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HTC Incredible (Or Supersonic?) Glimpsed On Video [Android]

Morning! And welcome to another edition of “Hey, it looks like the iPhone might soon have video chat and a front-facing camera.” Today’s round includes the iPhone SDK, and the fact that it mentions a number of video chat commands:

That there image is from the SDK, and all but hits you in the face with two icons that mention “accepting” and “declining” video.

Parsing the evidence further, we discover this, a more direct mention of “video chat” in the telephony UI code:

So video chat on the iPhone. Probably coming soon, at least in code form. But what of the heavy strain on AT&T’s 3G network? One would think that video chat via millions of new iPhones would tax the hell out of an already taxed system. Perhaps they’ll roll it out everywhere but New York City and San Francisco and screw those cities a little more? Maybe throw little “too bad, so sad” San Fran/NYC asterisk caveats in all the anti-Verizon Wireless ads they no doubt have saved in the can for when this hypothetical video chat iPhone launches. We’ll see. Editor’s Note: Or video is being prepped for some other carrier’s network, as noted in the comments. Could be! -j.l.

In any event, as far as a hardware refresh or longer case goes? If the video chat development pans out, it’s looking more and more likely. [9to5Mac]

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Tantalizing iPhone Code Clues Hint at Future Video Chat Capability [IPhone]

Intel is moving from conifers to deciduous trees as inspiration for its next Atom Z-series platform, if PC Watch is correct. The Z-series is residing in netbooks and ultra-portables such as the Vaio P from Sony, but with Moorestown not compatible with Windows it makes sense Intel would need a new processor.

Enter Oak Trail, which PC Watch admits is an unconfirmed rumor—but supposedly will be more energy efficient and perhaps even based on Moorestown, yet capable of running Windows. It’s certainly not a replacement for Pine Trail, which only launched in December, as they’re too large and use too much energy. [PC Watch via Pocketables]

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Oak Trail Is Name Of Intel Atom Z-Series Replacement (Supposedly) [Intel]

Scott Moritz of TheStreet.com has a knack for landing exclusive stories—Microsoft-branded phones, Verizon-based iPhones and more—but his track record isn’t exactly the best based on what Technologizer found in their breakdown of these “exclusive” stories.

TheStreet.com’s Scott Moritz has an exciting exclusive: Northeast Securities analyst Ashok Kumar has learned that Microsoft is working on a Microsoft-branded phone based on its Windows Phone 7 Series OS. It’ll be manufactured by HTC, and software problems have postponed its release into 2011.

The story would seem to give new life to old rumors about a Microsoft phone, code-named project “Pink.” Except…Scott Moritz stories headlined as”exclusives”–usually crediting Kumar for the scoop–have a crummy track record of exclusively revealing stuff that turns out to be true. When I see them, my instinctive response is skepticism, not bland acceptance of anything in the story as gospel.

Shall we recap?

The exclusive: Verizon, disgruntled over Palm Pre sales, decides not to sell the phone:

The upshot: At January’s CES show, announced it would sell Palm’s Pre Plus and Pixi Plus, starting later that month. (Of course, it’s conceivable that Verizon changed its mind, and if you want to get really technical, you might contend that the Pre Plus isn’t a Pre.)

The exclusive: Google plans to to sell an Android phone through retailers by the end of the year, bypassing wireless carriers, says Kumar:

The upshot: The Google phone is real , and it almost shipped in 2009. Moritz’s story says it will use a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip (correct) and speculates that it might be built by HTC (ditto). But it’s sold direct by Google, not at retail–and it’s offered with a rather non-disruptive T-Mobile contract.

The exclusive:Kumar says that the much-anticipated Apple tablet will use a chip from Apple’s own PA Semi division,not an Intel CPU:

The upshot: Bingo! (Of course, the real surprise would have been if the iPhone-like iPad did use an Intel processor.)

The exclusive: A new iPhone available on Verizon Wireless this summer wpack a Qualcomm wireless chip, Kumar says:

The upshot: We may not know for a few months if there’s anything to this one.

The exclusive:: Kumar has learned that the Apple tablet will use Verizon Wireless for broadband–proven by its use of a Qualcomm chip:

The upshot: Less than a week later, Apple unveiled the iPad. Its 3G version will run on AT&T. I’m not sure if anyone who isn’t involved with manufacturing of iPads knows for sure if there’s any Qualcomm technology inside.

That’s three exclusives that turned out to be completely or partially bogus, one that was correct, and two (counting the new Microsoft one) that may or may not amount to anything. Even if you assume that both the Qualcomm iPhone and Microsoft phone exclusives will pan out, chances would be fifty percent that Moritz was right, and fifty percent that he was wrong.

Anyone want to explain why Moritz keeps relaying Kumar’s rumors as “exclusive” facts–and why TheStreet lets him do so?

Reprinted with permission from Technologizer.

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Exclusive: TheStreet.com’s Tech Exclusives Are a Crapshoot [Rumors]

This is the third photo in as many days that we’ve seen of Best Buy’s system showing supposed new Apple products, with this latest one claiming a launch date of the 19th of February. That’s tomorrow, friends.

Our latest Best Buy tipster couldn’t confirm exactly what the dummy SKUs showing up on the system are, but it’s most likely the new wave of (fault-free) 27-inch iMacs. After all, tomorrow’s a Friday, and Apple usually launches brand new products on Tuesdays.

The $1,999.99 price glimpsed on the photo of the system is yet another clue that it’s just 27-inch Core i5 2.66GHz iMacs—either that, or a new 15-inch MacBook Pro, which wouldn’t entirely surprise us either. [Thanks to our anonymous tipster!]

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Best Buy Dummy SKUs Suggest New Apple Product Will Hit Stores Tomorrow [Apple]

Listen, we know what you’re thinking: “Hey Engadget, what’s with all the excessive Microsoft coverage today? Where’s our Apple rumors?” Here you go! Though the last Best Buy database screencap ended up being even more dubious than we had suspected, today’s MacRumors-borne pic has the added bonus of a trio of new entries, aptly titled Dummy SKU A, B, and C, respectively. There’s not a lot to go on here, and assuming the shot is legit (we cannot independently confirm at this point), it doesn’t really say much. Oft-coveted refreshed MacBook Pros? Those pesky WiFi iPads due out next month? Bobble heads for Steve Jobs, Phil Schiller and Scott Forstall? We may never know for sure.

[Thanks, Ryan]

Dummy Apple SKUs materialize in Best Buy’s inventory system? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dummy Apple SKUs materialize in Best Buy’s inventory system?

You’d have to be heartless to walk by Interbots’ Quasi and not crack a smile. Q, as we like to call him, isn’t an autonomous bot, but instead everything from his facial expressions to his speech are controlled wirelessly via a tablet PC. As you can see in the video after the break, his master can change his eye color and arm / hand movements with just a touch of the stylus. So, why did Quasi, who was born at Carnegie Mellon in 2006, make an appearance at the 2010 Toy Fair? Interbots is planning to bring an affordable child-friendly version of the $80,000 bot to market by the end of the year, and the reps on hand told us that it’ll even have similar puppeteering capabilities. Sounds like a potential nightmare for parents, but there’s something about this guy that makes us sure about his future as much-adored, bona fide family member.

Continue reading Quasi robot melts hearts at Toy Fair, Interbots promises toy version soon

Quasi robot melts hearts at Toy Fair, Interbots promises toy version soon originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quasi robot melts hearts at Toy Fair, Interbots promises toy version soon

We pretty much knew that Windows Mobile 7 is coming next week at MWC, but the Wall Street Journal has a piece up confirming the announcement, along with a few other interesting details. As we’d heard, the new UI is a riff on the Zune HD interface, and the OS “reflects a much tighter focus” on hardware / software integration, all based around a “small number” of hardware chassis specs — pretty much what we’ve known, but it’s interesting that the Journal’s source says the plan is to “limit the wild variation” that’s typically been the hallmark of Windows Mobile. The WSJ also says that the long-rumored Pink project is a separate phone designed to replace the Sidekick — which we also basically knew — but that it won’t make an appearance at MWC at all. Hmm, sounds like someone ought tell all those Twittering Danger employees. We’ll see what happens — it all goes down early on Monday.

Wall Street Journal: Windows Mobile 7 coming next week originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wall Street Journal: Windows Mobile 7 coming next week

TechCrunch has run a dubious-sounding piece, quoting sources as saying Amazon’s working on a scheme to give each Amazon Prime user a free Kindle. With an annual membership to Prime costing $79 for extra-fast shipping, they’d be losing $120 from the retail value of the first-gen Kindle.

While I don’t think it’ll be offered to the one-month trial members, it would definitely encourage more Prime sign-ups—and therefore, more Amazon purchases. Still, to give away a free Kindle sounds way too generous, even for Amazon. [TechCrunch]

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Rumor: A Free Kindle For Each Amazon Prime Customer? [Amazon]