TSMC is now said to be testing the new CPU, so we now await confirmation from Apple on this. We have been expecting a change for some time now; it’s no secret that Apple and Samsung are no longer BFFE. Reuters has a few concerns over this report though, and one of them is TSMC’s ability to produce the kind of numbers that would be expected of them.

Things are not entirely dead between Samsung and Apple though, as they are still working together with the A5 chip in the iPad 2, which is also said to be the processor of choice for the upcoming fifth-generation iPhone, which is due out in September. However, both August and October have been suggested as potential release dates as well.

Apple might have a solution to get around supply and demand, Reuters suggests that TSMC might only get a contract to supply up to 30 percent of the A6 CPUs, with Samsung still supplying the majority. However, we cannot feel that this is all part of the transition process. Once TSMC is able to fulfill all 100 percent that could be when Apple will cut their ties with the South Koran electronics maker.

Details of the manufacturer behind the A6 chip might not be shared until the last minute. We know that the iPad 3 will be the first of their iOS devices to get the new processor, so we should expect confirmation of this in March 2011. However, there is the small chance that the A6 chip could find its way inside the rumored new iPad due out later this year.

As you would assume, neither Apple, Samsung or TSMC were available for comment; so yet more mystery for upcoming iOS devices. It is this mystery that helps to keep Apple a favorite with media outlets, as all this speculation makes for a good story. Apple is not stupid either, they know by keeping things to themselves will swirl around the Internet like a tornado, until it finally touches the ground, which will be in the form of Steve Jobs delivering his keynote speech.

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Before we get ahead of ourselves here we have to remind you that this is currently just a patent, but what a patent. Those clever people over at Apple are said to be looking into wireless charging, so all you need to do is have the device close to a computer but not actually connected.

This is said to use NFC technology, so we know that it will not be on the iPhone 5, as we were informed that it would not be in that model – not much else for that matter. What this would mean for the user is no need for a mat to charge your iOS device, so this would make conductive charging look pedestrian by comparison.

Now Physorg has not made any mention as to what Apple device could use said technology, but it has to be one of their iOS devices. We came up with the assumption of the iPhone 6, as we are more than certain that this is the model that will have radical changes. However, let us not forget that most of these Apple patents never see the light of day – so this could be another one of those out-there ideas.

What makes us think that there could be some truth to this one though is how Apple is working hard to stop the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch from being reliant on a cable, which is where iCloud comes in. Watch this space.

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MacRumors has been looking at what events the Moscone Center has going on next year, and we can see that June 10- 15 has been earmarked for Apple’s WWDC 2012 event. We should not jump ahead of ourselves here, as these days are provisional. However, we cannot see that these dates are accurate, as that would mean that Steve Jobs would hold his keynote on a Sunday. Maybe it will be the 16th, and that the day before will be when Apple takes over the venue to get ready?

The launch of iOS 5 was seen as a huge success for Apple, and will finally give the iPhone and iPad a few much-needed features – even if they have been borrowed from Android and Windows Phone. However, one would expect Apple to step it up another gear and come up with yet more needed features and tweaks. iOS 6 will need to be ready for 4G, as we expect next years iPhone to fully support the technology.

The sixth-generation iPhone should come with a new design, unlike the iPhone 5, which is said to be just a minor spec bump and nothing else. We should expect a few more things from iPhone 6, and that is a complete redesign, improved battery and also dual GSM/CDMA support. Oh one more thing, it should also be available on all four main carriers in the U.S.

More About: iOS 6, iPhone 6, WWDC

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The company which is responsible for the graphics processor in the iPad and iPhone, Imagination Technologies, has said that six companies have chosen their next PowerVR Series 6 GPU for licensing, according to an article by Arnold Kim of MacRumors.com.

Some of the companies already revealed include Texas Instruments, and ST-Ericsson. But three other companies have licenses are yet to be announced. Apple has been a user of the companies GPUs for their mobile devices for a while, as well as being an investor with a 9.5% stake. The current iPad 2 has the PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU.

This with the new A5 chip has led Apple to claim the new iPad was nine times faster than the original model, and this upcoming processor will give the device an even bigger boost. The new processor will be compatible with its predecessor, so there will be no problems with it slotting into new models. It will also help with the rumored Retina display which could be coming to the tablet.

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Sony does not want to make the same mistake as they did with the PS3 when it comes to manufacturing costs, which was the main reason why they were selling PlayStation 3 consoles at a loss for some time. Nintendo kept things very simple with the Wii and it worked – not saying it will still work now, but it is worth exploring. We still do not know if the PS4 or even the Xbox 720 come to that is needed.

Sony knows that the more advanced hardware they use the more it can go wrong; Sony and Microsoft know that through personal experience. ITProPortal explains how using ARM technology will be pivotal for the future of gaming, and they could be on to something. We know that we always hunger for more power, but software developers can be very clever with what they do.

We have mentioned on a number of occasions that Apple could decide to shift over to using the ARM processor in the iPhone 6 and even the next MacBook Air. This could have a quad-core processor and be as powerful as the PS3. Now there is the little concern of the battery; Apple needs to come up with new battery technology before then.

Do you think that the PS4 and the iPhone 6 will both use ARM processors?

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AT@T are currently trying to purchase rival cell phone provider T-Mobile USA, and with this in mind do customers of T-Mobile want to upgrade to an iPhone with the company? There will be many customers of all service providers soon due to get an upgrade on their handset, so they will have the decision of staying put or jumping to another carrier.

If Apple does wait to release the next iPhone towards the end of the year, this could then mean that future versions are also released towards the end of each year, instead of the usual June release. There has been some talk of the next iPhone being available for customers of Sprint as well as the handset being universal.

So when it comes to future versions of the iPhone which will be your preferred carrier? Take part in our poll below and tell us what you think about future iPhone releases.

[poll id="346"]

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Samsung has made the chip for the iPhone and iPad since the start, but things could be about to come to an end. 9 to 5 Mac has been talking to an analyst, who believes that a partnership with Intel and Apple will do very well, as they already have a good working relationship with the Intel chips inside their iMac and Mac range.

Samsung is a huge threat to both companies, so if Intel were to provide the A6 chip, then this could deal a huge blow to the Korean consumer electronics maker. This is not a clear cut deal at the moment, as 9 to 5 Mac points out that Intel “isn’t in the foundry business.” However, there is a first time for everything, and could be a good thing for Intel, as the iPhone and iPad is the number one selling smartphone and tablet device on the market.

Personally, we believe that Apple will part ways with Samsung after the A5, and will look for someone entirely different for their chips. Who this is we have no way of knowing, but there are a few in the running. Who do you think will make the A6 chip for Apple?

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Neil Hughes from AppleInsider is reporting that Apple have allegedly chosen Sharp to make next-generation low-temperature poly-silicon LCD displays. This will allow Apple to produce an even thinner and lighter handset for 2012.

According to a Japanese article Sharp will start making the displays in the spring of next year, and has already started to get equipment ready at its Kameyama Plant No. 1. This plant is usually used to make LCD TVs.

This type of display is not only lighter and thinner, but also uses less power than normal LCD displays. The technology has allowed companies to create “system on glass” devices; these have optical sensors and other components directly on the glass substrate. This not only saves space but improves battery life.

It is also thought displays of this type create more vivid images on screen with improved durability due to less connecting pins. The current iPhone has the Retina Display as one of its main selling points, but this technology will improve that further.

Do you think the iPhone 4 display could be improved even more?

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According to an article on The Cell Phone Junkie the next iPhone should definitely support current 3G technologies. It could also have HSPA+ that is currently being rolled out by carriers around the world including AT&T.

With Verizon, the company’s CFO Fran Shammo recently let slip that the next iPhone will be capable to be used worldwide. The Verizon 4 and the CDMA iPad 2 currently use a Qualcomm Gobi chip the MDM6600. Verizon decided to have CDMA handset but it won’t be hard to make it global.

We have already reported the iPhone 5 will look similar to the current model but will have the same A5 chip found in the iPad 2. Verizon moving to CDMA 1X-Advanced SVDO will be of interest to Apple for the next iPhone.

There is a good chance the iPhone 6 will have LTE especially if it comes in 2012, but it all depends on what Qualcomm are doing. They revealed its next generation of chipsets back in February which will provide improvements in modem performance and power consumption. Apple will be looking for what these chips can offer for its devices, and will be available around the time that Apple could start testing.

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The Daily Mail said that the reason behind the issue with Ive is due to the fact that his deal with Apple is about to come to an end, and he wants to move back to the UK. He hopes to still work for Apple while living in the UK, but they do not seem all that crazy on the idea. They must have their reasons, what they are we may never know.

This could potentially be a huge blow for Apple, as the iPhone 6 and the iPad 3 could end up with a radical design change. Most fans of the iPhone will appreciate how remarkable its design has been over the years, while others will say that it is time for change. Either way things are about to get very interesting.

I am in the camp that likes the design of the iPhone 4 – apart from the antenna issue – and certainly sticks with Apple’s clean crisp look. It is hard to say what future iPhone handsets will look like without Ive’s input, we just hope that they do not look like clones of other handsets that are being released. If they did this, then we could be looking at just another phone – something that we do not currently say about the iPhone 4.

If Jonathan Ive left Apple how do you think future iPhone smartphones will look?

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