MacBlogz - One Stop Apple News » Major Grains of Salt

Sources Say 4GB iPhone Is Not Happening, Just A Rumor

Aviv — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 04:21:18 +0000

Boy Genius Report has been reporting about Walmart carrying the iPhone for some time now. Most of what they’ve reported in the past has correlated with information we’ve heard from our sources, however recent claims of a 4GB iPhone are simply not true.

Aside from BGR, we’ve also heard that Walmart will begin selling the iPhone in the near future. However, they broke the news first and we only found out/confirmed it due to an investigation based on BGR’s initial tip, so nothing original was offered from our sources.

BGR has been reporting that Walmart will begin selling the iPhone since early October. An initial expected delivery date of November 15th came and went, but rumors held strong. As the end of the year nears, BGR is claiming to have heard of an upcoming $99, 4GB iPhone to be released within the next 3 weeks, and sold directly through Walmart, and possibly Sam’s Club.

Based on every piece of information we’ve heard, and direct information inside AT&T, this is not happening. Our AT&T sources have been confirmed accurate in the past, so this new information is being reported with confidence. If this rumor does come true, then we will be just as surprised as everyone else. However, we are sticking with our colleagues on this one and endorsing the inaccuracy of these rumors.

For the sake of fairness, BGR does explain that the information is not from one of their regular, trusted sources.

Anonymous Tipster Comments On Apple’s Black Friday Deals

Aviv — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:03:53 +0000

An anonymous commenter has posted a comment claiming to have information regarding Apple’s upcoming Black Friday deals. While MacBlogz doesn’t endorse the information or claim it to be from a credible source, we decided to share none-the-less.

While the information is similar to that of previous years, mention of Apple’s still unreleased in-ear headphones is absent (I’d like to see if there’s a deal there). Further investigation points the IP address at California, however the credibility of the source is a bit tarnished by the location which happens to be a Community College District. A few checks with Apple retail and we were able to confirm that they don’t even have this information yet. So, this being a retail employee is relatively unlikely.

anonymous comment: so for everyone, that have immersed themselves recently about a red iphone will be disappointed once black friday comes along. the rumors about a 32GB iphone are correct and will be featured late december early january. there has been talk about a red iphone, but was quickly ended, yet still led to a stir amongst the online community.

Black Friday deals that will exist are:
Apple Bluetooth headset with a sales price of $108 ($21 savings)
20 inch and 24 inch iMacs at $1,799 ($101 savings)
31 rebate on all iPod Classic and free engraving.

there will be more available, and for all offers check the apple store site exactly at midnight on the 28th. between 11pm and 12am the apple store will be extremely slow and sluggish, because of changes to the site occuring as we try to upload all the pages.

hope this was helpful for the masses.

Once again, an anonymous tipster claims the (PRODUCT) RED iPhone is not going to happen, while agreeing with the 32GB iPhone being released in the next few months.

For further clarification, we do not endorse this new information, nor do we claim this as a legitimate source. This is simply an anonymous comment that was left on MacBlogz and we thought it best to share the allegedly leaked information.

Walmart Still Rumored To Start Selling iPhone in 2008

Aviv — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:56:37 +0000

According to BGR, Walmart may still be getting the iPhone before the end of the year. Previous rumors pointed to November 15th as the start date, to no avail.

Back in early October, BGR explained they had a source that “had it on good authority” that Walmart would begin selling the iPhone on November 15th. Now that the date has come and gone, they’ve issued an update explaining perhaps why Walmart has not yet begun selling the device.

We’re not sure if our sources had the date wrong or if there has been some sort of delay, but we’re still confident that the iPhone 3G is on its way to the nation’s biggest discount chain. We have word that many store managers have already been notified, and that a memo has gone out to select stores with information including a release date towards the end of December. A post-holiday release might indicate that the iPhone 3G will indeed be discounted at Wal-Mart once released, and perhaps Apple would rather keep holiday sales at the current price points.

BGR has a recorded call from a customer calling Walmart, in which the employee does admit they are “getting it” — as in, getting the iPhone. While the call is extremely vague, perhaps it does shed some light on Walmart’s future plans. Of course, retail employees generally know less than the rumor mill, so using them as a reference is not a good idea. While BGR explains that they are simply pointing out that word has trickled down to retail employees, store managers are informed as well.

As always, check out our iPhone Worldmap for Apple’s global expansion efforts with the iPhone.

Mac Tablet Rumors Are Like Rain, Eventually It’s Going to Happen

Aviv — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:23:31 +0000

In response to Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ remarks about Apple’s entry into the netbook category of the computer market, New York Times technology writer John Markoff has revealed information pointing to a confirmed “tablet” or “netbook” from Apple.

The above image is just a mockup/interpretation.

While these tablet “rumors” may eventually come true, if I keep claiming that God told me it was going to rain soon, I’d eventually be right. That’s what these tablet/touchscreen/netbook rumors are like. Every once in a while, a new seemingly credible source emerges with incredibly vague information, managing to hedge his bets and “protect his sources” by saying “it could be the next iPhone.”

Cult of Mac points out that this information was buried in an update to a previous post by the NYTimes writer. So clearly Markoff didn’t feel it necessary to truly showcase the “leaked” information in a full post, rather an update to “clarify his source.”

Regarding Jobs’ quote about Apple’s “interesting ideas” for the netbook market, Markoff explains: “That would seem to confirm findings that a search engine company shared with me on condition that I not reveal its name: The company spotted Web visits from an unannounced Apple product with a display somewhere between an iPhone and a MacBook. Is it the iPhone 3.0 or the NetMac 1.0?”

Either way, Markoff’s speculation is simply a resurfacing of a rumor that has been around for ages. It’s not a question of whether the Apple netbook will come true, but more so when it will come true.

Steve Jobs Responds to Missing FireWire Outrage via Email

Aviv — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:04:50 +0000

Apple CEO Steve Jobs has allegedly responded to an email regarding the outrage over missing FireWire in Apple’s new 13″ Macbook. The email, which hasn’t entirely been authenticated, explains that most digital camcorders use USB 2.0, as apposed to the now absent Firewire.

Jobs has been known to respond randomly to emails. In early August an internal email he sent to the entire Mobile Me team was leaked. Typically, someone will report of Jobs responding directly to an email they sent, however most of the time it’s not entirely possible to authenticate. In some cases though, IP’s can be scanned and some back tracking can be done. In the case of this email, the alleged respondent was kind enough to snap a photo of the purported message sent by Jobs.

Many users have been furious over the ansence of FireWire in the new Macbooks. However, seeing as how Apple invented the transfer technology, and is now leaning away from it, it’s safe to question the stability of FireWire’s future.

“I am a video producer and use my MacBook on site to ingest footage taken from FireWire cameras, even occasionally hooking the camera right up to the MacBook,” says one Mac user via Apple Insider. “Well, it looks like there isn’t a FireWire port on it anymore… how the heck am I supposed to do that? I am sure I am not the only one with this concern.” — “Many of us don’t have great confidence that FireWire is here to stay on MacBook Pro, Mac Pro, or iMac, either,” another AI forum user wrote.

The exclusion of FireWire on the consumer level Macbook, could have also been play by Apple to entice consumers into the more expensive Macbook Pro. But the $800 price jump is pretty steep for most consumers. Perhaps most ironic is that Apple continues to sell the entry-level white plastic Macbook for $300 less than the baseline aluminum model, and it retains FireWire.

A recent poll on MacDailyNews shows that 34.5% of readers consider the absence of FireWire “not an issue”, 24.8% call it a deal-breaker, about 20% say it’s an “annoyance they’ll work around” and nearly 10.5% say the move by Apple is pushing them to buy a Macbook Pro. Whatever the reasons may be, Apple is at the forefront of cutting-edge technology, so a move such as this isn’t necessarily shocking, as it is surprising.

Leaked Video: Macbook Design Allegedly Shown

Aviv — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:07:00 +0000

A video showing off Apple’s upcoming Macbook case design has been leaked by the same sources that have previously provided images of the top shell and outer casing of the new hardware. The short clip is below.

It’s difficult to determine whether the footage is actually accurate. There are no direct signs of manipulating the video/footage, but the thinness of the main portable body, as well as the bottom panel raise red flags about the video showing a Macbook Air alone.Apple is widely believed to be moving its plastic Macbook line to Aluminum housing, so the video is not a complete long shot.

Apple Inc, will be holding a Special Media Event on Tuesday, October 14th at 10am at the Apple Headquarters in Cupertino, California. The invitations read “The spotlight turns to notebooks.”

[Apple.pro]
[Electronista]

[Update] Fake Macbook Pro Images Trickle In, Mockups and Blurriness Galore

Aviv — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:37:42 +0000

As October 14th nears, anticipation for Apple to release an overhauled notebook line is at an all time high. MacBlogz has received a tip to a few more images which seem to be over-exciting some people.

We’re not going to report about some blurry spyshots of Apple’s upcoming Macbook Pro when we think the images themselves are fake, but it’s nice to speculate. The images below have been sent to us claiming that they could be the next Macbook Pro. Keep in mind the source is entirely unconfirmed and they simply look fake.

“According to a few people who have been lucky enough to see Apple’s new hardware, the next-generation Macbook and Macbook Pro are sporting very similar case designs, and overall design aesthetic, while pulling inspiration from the Macbook Air and iMac,” MacBlogz recently reported. This latest set of fake blurry photos definitely play off most of the information that everyone has already heard. Either way, we should be seeing Apple unveil some new notebooks within the next few weeks.

The bottom image looks just like a regular notebook with a Macbook Pro shell on it.

Updates: The tipster claims to be an employee on Apple’s Design Team. Although the source mentions a few tidbits of information, they simply explain what you see above.

• The ‘Touchpad Dock’ rumor is false
• A new magnetic opening/closing system is in place
• The top of the ’shell’ is gloss, similar to the iPhone and the bottom is aluminum.
• The iSight is hidden nicely in the glossy frame
• The keyboard is similar to the MacBook Air keyboard

Major Grains of Salt: Apple and AT&T Developing iPhone Tethering Plan

Aviv — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:47:20 +0000

Ever since the pulling of NetShare, we’ve been pretty disappointed about the lack of iPhone-to-laptop tethering option from AT&T. I mean, we understand why it doesn’t exist, but we don’t understand why it’s not being addressed.

Before I go on, please notice that this post is tagged “Major Grains of Salt,” simply because of the unlikelihood of both the source, as well as the general concept. Gizmodo is reporting that according to a “pretty legitimate-looking email thread” they received from a reader, the following was said.

From reader to Steve Jobs: AT&T offers data plans for BlackBerry that include tethering for an additional $30 per month (a total of $60 per month for the BlackBerry+tethering plan).

It seems ludicrous that the same thing is not offered with the iPhone. I understand the desire to prevent tethering with the current data plan, but I am willing to pay more money to allow tethering! With such an advanced device, why can I not do so?

From “Steve” to our reader: We agree, and are discussing it with ATT.

Steve

Sent from my iPhone

“We’re not sure—that “Sent from my iPhone” kicker either makes this email completely legitimate or illegitimate, but it’s not a bad little rumor to start your holiday weekend early,” Gizmodo explains.

Yes, Steve Jobs has been known to address emails directly once in a while. And yes, it would make sense that he addresses more of them in times of crisis, but, I still have a hard time believing most of these “Steve sent us an email” posts I see.

[via Gizmodo]

The New Macbook Pro; Overhauled Case Design (Mockup)

Aviv — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 23:05:09 +0000

Before you take a look at the image below, let me remind you that this may entirely be a mockup and NOT a leaked ad from Apple, which is what many are choosing to believe. We’ve chosen to tag this image “Major Grains of Salt”, simply because, well… ya know.

MacBlogz has been able to confirm the inclusion of a Macbook Air-like keyboard in the upcoming Macbook Pro overhaul. And while the above image looks fake, the keyboard is definitely similar to the Macbook Air’s. As most rumors have pointed us to the new Macbook pro design influence (iMac, Macbook Air), the above image depicts this well.

I’d like to see something similar to what’s above. In my opinion, take it from the Macbook Air and give it the Macbook Pro, only with bigger, faster, and beefier specs. But design-wise, the Air’s a GREAT start.

The image originated here, which is also why we think it’s absolutely fake.

Thank you to Macblogz reader RolledupOS’s for the tip !

Apple Developing Head Mounted Personal Viewers?

Dave — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:14:10 +0000

Ok folks, this one is totally out there. A recent report has divulged a claim that Apple, along with Sony, may be developing wearable, head-mounted video displays. Yes that’s right, iGoggles if you will.

The report goes on to note that not only will users be able to access media that is stored on iPods and iPhones, but will also have legitimate access to true computer functionality. As more encompassing multimedia experiences have been breaking ground, interest in such technologies have increased. Not only would products such as these capture consumer attention, but would provide extensive military applications as well.

“Today’s personal viewers provide video only with limited visibility of the environment. Sony and Apple are developing the next generation personal viewer, the navigation/video sunglasses. These products will offer navigation features in full see-through mode as well as video viewing with a clip-on to block the background. We expect that clip-ons will be available to provide both see-periphery views of the environment, as well as full blocking of the environment to enable video immersion when desired. This new versatile product generation will further accelerate acceptance and sales of personal viewers. “

The report notes that sales of personal viewers have seen dramatic growth. Consumer markets have been predicted to grow between $1.1B and $2.8B on the high end. This market growth has been factored to be driven by the emergence of major industry players, such as Apple.

As a side note, Myvu products are currently considered the best head-mountable goggles available. Although they’ve generally suffered through poor reviews, there still seems to be an interest in them, past the initial “WOW” factor.