The general consensus, however, is that there is indeed a new iPhone waiting in the wings, and that a thinner, lighter, and faster iPhone may finally take the stage within a month or so.

Chasing down the latest iPhone rumors is typically an exercise in futility, but now’s as good a time as any to summarize the latest chatter—especially since many of you have been asking when the next iPhone will finally go on sale.

What we know for sure
Next to nothing about actual new iPhone hardware—well, besides the fact we’re overdue for a new iPhone.

Whither the iPhone 5?
In the past few years, Apple has announced its latest iPhone models in June, around the time of its annual software developers conference.

But the Apple’s 2011 Worldwide Developers Conference came and went without a new iPhone. Instead, Steve Jobs & Co. focused on software during the conference, detailing (among other things) a new version of iOS, the software that powers the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

New iPhone software
The more than 200 features slated for iOS 5 sound pretty impressive, by the way. Among them: a new, improved alert system that notifies you of incoming calls and calendar events in a subtle window along the top of the screen, replacing the current, jarring pop-up windows that interrupt whatever you happen to be doing.

iOS 5 will also let you sync your iPhone or iPad wirelessly with your PC—no more having to fish out the sync cable.

You cloud, iCloud, we all cloud
Even more tantalizing than the upcoming iOS update is iCloud, Apple’s soon-to-arrive “cloud”-based storage service that will store and share your music, snapshots, calendars, and other documents with all your various Apple devices—for free.

Both iOS 5 and iCloud are due to arrive sometime this fall.

What we think we know
The fact that we didn’t get a new iPhone last month didn’t come as a huge surprise to industry mavens, who’d already been predicting for months that Apple would break with tradition and wait to release a new iPhone until…

Timing is everything
…this fall, with the latest word being that the next iPhone could go on sale as early as September 5.

Look & feel
The rumor mill has been violently seesawing on what the new iPhone will look like. Will it arrive with a “radical” new design, or look more or less like the iPhone 4? Who knows, although the chatter seems to be pointing toward an iPhone that’s “thinner and lighter” than the current iPhone, if nothing else.

New & improved features
Just about every iPhone rumor suggests that the latest model will pack in a faster, dual-core processor—that is, two processors on a single chip, good for faster and more efficient performance. (The new iPad 2 already has a dual-core processor crammed into its shell.)

Also rumored: a sharper, eight-megapixel camera on the iPhone’s back panel. (The iPhone 4 has a five-megapixel camera in back.)

There’s also talk that the next iPhone could come with a slightly larger display than the 3.5-inch screen on all the previous iPhones, but others believe that a big-screen iPhone may not arrive until next year.

One new iPhone, or two?
Another persistent rumor has it that we may get not one, but two new iPhones in September: a pricier, high-end iPhone, and a cheaper iPhone with mid-range features. Well, maybe so, but recent buzz has it that the “cheaper” iPhone will be little more than the two-year-old iPhone 3GS with a $350, no-contract price tag.

Sprint and T-Mobile?
What if the biggest news about the next iPhone isn’t a new feature at all, but merely the long-awaited arrival of the iPhone on Sprint and T-Mobile? It seems like the logical next step now that Verizon has the iPhone, but the evidence for this prediction seems tenuous, at best.

So … that’s pretty much all we know—and all we think we know—at this point. Hopefully, we’ll get the straight scoop from Apple within a month or so; until then, we’ll just have to cool our heels.

What are you hoping to see in the next iPhone? Planning on upgrading—or not?

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So, is the latest iPad buzz to be believed?

Background:
As I wrote in June after the last round of iPad rumors, the initial whispers about a second iPad for 2011 began back in February—well before the current iPad 2 was even announced.

At the time, most of the talk was about a new iPad with a higher-resolution display than the iPad 2’s screen (which, to the disappointment of many, turned out to have the same resolution as the original iPad), although there were also whispers of a smaller iPad in the pipeline (which later appeared to be debunked by Steve Jobs himself).

Then in June, Reuters stoking the fire with word of an “iPad3” with a screen “5-6 times” sharper than the iPad 2, with the new tablet to arrive before the year is out.

The latest chatter:
An industry analyst turned heads on Wednesday (via MacRumors) by suggesting that yes, a new iPad with a higher-resultion display is coming in “late 2011,” and he even offered up a name: the iPad 2 “Plus.”

By Thursday afternoon, This Is My Next dropped a bomb of its own, claiming (via the word of various unnamed sources) that the supposed new iPad will be called the iPad “HD,” and that it’ll be “aimed at a higher-end market” such as professional photographers and video editors.

In other words, the emerging consensus among Apple watchers (or at least those who believe a new iPad will land in 2011) is that the iPad “Plus” or “HD” will be more of a “pro” version of the iPad 2 than a full-on iPad 3.

The (precious few) facts:
Pretty much unchanged from last time. Apple still hasn’t made any hint of its upcoming iPad plans, and it’s worth mentioning again that when the iPad 2 was revealed back in March, Jobs called 2011 the “year of the iPad 2.”

That said, if the rumored iPad 2 “HD” or “Plus” turns out to be a member of the iPad 2 “family,” perhaps a new iPad model this year would still make sense given Steve Jobs’ earlier proclamation.

here’s the thing:
Like I said before, I’m still having a hard time believing that Apple would announce two iPad models in the same year.

And if Apple were to go ahead and release an iPad “HD” with an improved display in September, it would either a) irk everyone who bought an iPad 2 just a few months ago, assuming it arrives with the same $499-and-up price tag, or b) land with a higher, “pro”-level stick price, which would run counter to Apple’s strategy of keeping iPad prices reasonably low.

To me, it seems far more likely that we won’t see a new iPad until the (presumed) iPad 3—complete with the iPad’s first “retina”-style display—next March or April.

Then again, I’m not the one with the top-secret sources here, so hey—you never know, particularly when it comes to Apple.

So, what do you think: Will Apple surprise us all with an iPad 2 “HD” this fall?

Sources: MacRumors, This Is My Next

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The New York Post says it’s “learned” that “All My Children” (yes, complete with Susan Lucci) and “One Life to Live” might continue as part of an as-yet-unnamed Web-based video network, with ABC reportedly selling the rights to the shows to online media company Prospect Park.

Update: The New York Times just confirmed the news.

ABC cancelled the two long-running soaps back in April, with “All My Children” slated to go dark in September, while “One Life to Live” will limp along until January.

Soap fans commenting on the Post story sound skeptical of the news, however, noting that the Post report lacks any official confirmation from ABC or Prospect Park. Others fretted that the Web isn’t the proper home for the shows, which have been network TV staples for more than 40 years each.

“Let’s keep our fingers crossed,” wrote one fan. “I think it would be great but on the other hand (I) don’t think it will last long on the web.”

So, “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” watchers … do you believe the Post’s story? And do you think traditional soap operas can find a home online?

Source: NY Post (via Pat’s Papers)

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The new, “thinner and lighter” iPhone will boast a sharper camera (think eight megapixels, up from five on the iPhone 4), according to the unnamed component suppliers quoted by the Journal.

The paper added that the revamped iPhone is also “complicated and difficult to assemble,” which could lead to production delays and, consequently, long lines at your local Apple store.

The new Journal report adds yet another angle to an already confusing mix of iPhone rumors.

One cluster of rumors has it that the upcoming iPhone “4S” (“S” as in “speed,” similar to the iPhone 3GS from a couple years back) will look more or less the same as the iPhone 4, with its main improvements—namely a speedier processor and a sharper, eight-megapixel camera—under the hood.

Another camp believes that the new iPhone will be a full-on revamp, complete with a “radical” new design, a larger display, and a thinner profile. There are also a few who predict that Apple may unveil not one, but two iPhones in September: a cheaper, lightly updated iPhone 4S and a completely redesigned iPhone 5.

here’s the thing: When it comes to cold, hard facts, we know nothing at all about the new iPhone (beyond that it isn’t here yet, of course). But when the Wall Street Journal weighs in on Apple, I tend to listen—although I’m sure we’ll hear another contradictory iPhone rumor before the week is out.

Source: Wall Street Journal (subscription required)

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Well, the scales are slowly tipping in the direction of a relatively minor update, with a new report claiming that the iPhone 5 (or the iPhone “4S,” à la the iPhone 3GS from two years ago) will ship in September and “does not seem to have any major update” compared to the existing iPhone 4.

So says Taipai-based tech site DigiTimes, which adds that component manufacturers in Taiwan are gearing up to ship a whopping 15 million next-generation iPhones starting in September—right around the time that Apple is expected to unleash the latest version of its iOS mobile platform.

The (totally unconfirmed) DigiTimes story falls more or less in line with previous rumors claiming that the next iPhone will arrive this fall with a peppier, dual-core processor (think two processors on a single chip, good for speedier and more efficient performance) and an eight-megapixel camera (versus five megapixels in the iPhone 4).

There have also been lingering rumors that Apple has a fully redesigned iPhone up its sleeves, complete with a larger display and a slimmer profile. Just last week, chatter had it that Apple may actually bow two iPhones in September: a lightly updated iPhone 4S (the “S” would presumably stand for “speed,” as it did with 2009’s iPhone 3GS), and a completely revamped iPhone 5.

But for now, the consensus seems to be that an all-new iPhone design will have to wait until 2012—and indeed, it would be a major break with tradition were Apple to unveil two new iPhone models in a single year.

So, iPhone 4 owners: would you plunk down $200 (or more) for a new iPhone that comes with little more than a faster processor and a sharper camera, or would you wait until next year for an all-new iPhone?

Source: DigiTimes

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Well, now, what could we be talking about here? Maybe that long-rumored Facebook app for iPad that we’ve all been waiting for? Or perhaps the unconfirmed photo sharing app for the iPhone that’s been leaking all over the place?

Zuckerberg coughed up at least one clue on Wednesday: that the mystery feature had been cooked up at Facebook’s satellite Seattle office, which has “made a mark on the company’s mobile efforts” in the past, according to Reuters.

So, what’s your guess? Cast your vote now!

[polldaddy poll=5195452]

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Before we delve into the details, let’s remember the one and only thing we know for sure about the new iPhone: it isn’t here yet. What follows is merely rumor and speculation, not fact.

Still here? Good.

So … in recent weeks, we’ve been hearing a pair of dueling rumors about the next iPhone—which, by the way, most believe will be making its debut in September.

Rumor one: The iPhone “4S,” as some are calling it, will look almost exactly the same as the current iPhone 4, with the most substantial changes—including a faster processor and a sharper camera—hidden under the hood.

Next, we have rumor No. 2: An all-new iPhone 5 with a “radical” new design, potentially including a thinner profile and a larger display.

Well, the latest buzz, courtesy of Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Whitmore (via Fortune’s Apple 2.0 blog), is that we’ll actually be getting the best of both worlds: a (presumably redesigned) iPhone 5 and a “mid-range” iPhone 4S.

In an interesting twist, though, Whitmore believes the (rumored!) iPhone 4S may actually arrived “unlocked”—meaning you’d be able to use it with the carrier of your choice.

But wait—isn’t Apple already selling an unlocked version of the iPhone 4—for a whopping $650 and up? (Why so expensive? Because the unlocked iPhone doesn’t require a two-year contract, and that means no discounts from carriers.)

Well, yes, but Whitmore believes that Apple might sell a new, unlocked iPhone 4S for just $350 rather than $650, as well as offer a pre-paid voice plan for the “mid-range” model.

Interesting—and indeed, the New York Times claimed back in February that Apple was indeed planning on a new iPhone that’s “similar in size” but “less expensive” than the current iPhone, although the Times report was silent on any pre-paid plans.

So, who to believe? Personally, I’m feeling more in the dark than ever, although I think the rumors of a cheaper, tuned-up iPhone “4S” sound the most credible.

And while I love the idea of both an iPhone 4S plus all-new iPhone 5, I wonder if the iPhone-5-in-2011 chatter is little more than wishful thinking.

In any case, we likely have two more months of stumbling around in the dark before Apple’s annual (although still unannounced) September iPod event, when Steve Jobs & Co. are expected to trot out a new iPhone.

Maybe.

Source: Fortune’s Apple 2.0 blog

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Update [7/5/11]: Verizon just confirmed the leaked details of its new data plans to FierceWireless. Also: See how Verizon’s tiered smartphone plans compare to the data offerings of the other big three U.S. carriers.

When is Verizon’s 3G unlimited data plan going away?
For now, all we know for sure is that Verizon Wireless will “move to a more usage based model”—meaning plans that are capped at a certain level—in July. But a series of leaked, official-looking documents (discovered by phone blog Android Central) peg July 7 as the day when Verizon’s unlimited, $30-a-month data plan is going away.

I have the Verizon iPhone with an unlimited 3G data plan; do I have to change plans now?
If you’re in the middle of a service contract with Verizon and you signed up for unlimited smartphone data, relax; your unlimited plan will most likely be grandfathered in. There’s also word that you might be able to keep your unlimited data even when upgrading to a new phone, although again … we’re still waiting for official confirmation on that.

What about if you’re buying a phone from Verizon for the first time?
If you’re a new Verizon customer, you’ll most likely have to choose a metered plan—in other words, no unlimited for you … unless you act fast, of course.

How much will the new plans cost?
According to the leaked documents, we could be talking:

• 2 GB for $30/month
• 5 GB for $50/month
• 10 GB for $80/month

Each of those plans reportedly includes an overage fee of $10 for every extra gigabyte—although again, none of this is official yet.

Um, isn’t that more than what AT&T charges for data?
Yes, indeed. AT&T currently charges just $25 a month for 2 GB of data under its “DataPro” plan, while a cheaper 200MB plan goes for $15 a month.

Are these new “capped” data plans only for the iPhone?
In all likelihood, they’ll apply to any and all of Verizon’s smartphones, including Android phones and BlackBerrys.

OK, so which of these new data plans should I pick?
That depends how much data you use in general, naturally. Those who regularly surf, exchange email, and watch the occasional Netflix instant video should be fine with the 2 GB/month plan, and you’ll surely be able to bump up a level if you need to. Also, Verizon has a data calculator to help you guesstimate your typical monthly data usage.

I have a one of those “feature” phones from Verizon—you, know, a phone that isn’t quite a smartphone. Same deal with the capped data plans?
Yes, although the leaked documents also include a pair of additional, cheaper options for feature-phone users: 75 MB for $10 a month, or a straight $1.99 per megabyte.

Do the new plans also apply to the new phones on Verizon’s ultra-fast 4G LTE network?
It appears so, yes.

I like using my Android phone on Verizon as a mobile Wi-Fi “hotspot,” and for now, that costs me an extra $20 a month for 2 GB of hotspot data. Will that plan stay the same?
Unfortunately, it looks like the fee for mobile hotspot data will be rising to $30 a month for 2 GB of data. Let’s hope Verizon changes its mind before revealing its official pricing plans.

Any idea on when Verizon will go public with its new data plans?
Given that a Verizon spokesperson confirmed that data changes are coming next month, I’d imagine we’ll hear some news any day now. Stay tuned.

Wait, I still have more questions?
No problem; post ’em below, or send me an email.

Source: Android Central

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The phone will be called the Status, according to Boy Genius Report and its unnamed sources. If the handset looks familiar, that’s probably because smartphone maker HTC already revealed it—as the “ChaCha”—back in February.

Tap the Facebook button to share webpages, photos, songs, and other online goodies with your Facebook pals.

Resembling a old-style BlackBerry phone, complete with a 2.6-inch touchscreen above a compact QWERTY keypad, the Android-powered ChaCha has already been … well, cha-cha-chaing its way around Europe for a few months, but the Facebook-friendly handset has yet to land here in the States. (HTC also announced another, larger Facebook phone along with the ChaCha: the keyboard-less Salsa.)

HTC promised back in February that the phone—or its “unique user experience—would arrive in the U.S. “later this year,” but it still hasn’t confirmed a specific release date.

For its part, Boy Genius claims the ChaCha (or whatever it ends up being called) will arrive stateside in the “coming weeks.”

So, what’s so special about the ChaCha? Just beneath the QWERTY keyboard sits a little blue button with the telltale Facebook logo; press it, and you’ll instantly share the webpage you’re browsing, the photos you’re viewing, or the music you’re listening to with your Facebook pals. (Don’t worry—the ChaCha will prompt you before posting items to your Facebook wall willy-nilly.)

The ChaCha also boasts a custom widget that lets you chat with groups of Facebook pals while you’re on the go.

What do you think—any interest in an Android smartphone with a dedicated Facebook button?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAyrZiFC2V4&w=550]

Source: Boy Genius Report

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One day, we hear that the new iPhone will look an awful lot like the current iPhone 4, with the main improvements consisting of speedier performance and an improved camera.

The next day, chatter has it that no—the next iPhone will not merely be an incremental upgrade. Instead, we’re talking a “radical” new design, which may or may not include a slimmer profile and a larger display.

A day later, we’re back to the same look as the iPhone 4, with a faster processor and a better camera.

And tomorrow, I guarantee you, someone will shake the iPhone rumor Boggle box yet again.

It’s enough to give anyone following the iPhone rumor derby whiplash, and hey—I’m just as guilty as anyone else of frantically running along, trying to keep up.

But even as we get hit with more iPhone buzz in the coming days and weeks, here’s the thing to keep in mind: for now, we know exactly one thing, and one thing only, about the next iPhone.

It isn’t here yet.

Yes, Apple has detailed many of the changes coming in iOS 5, the latest version of the iPhone (and iPad, and iPod Touch) system software, and one can only assume that we’ll get a new iPhone sooner or later.

But Apple, as usual, has yet to confirm the name of the new iPhone, when it’ll arrive, what new features it will have, or even whether it’s working on one. And Apple’s usual launchpad for a new iPhone—its annual developer conference, held earlier this month—came and went without an iPhone 5, or any scraps about when we might expect to see one.

So, does this mean no more iPhone “rumorville” posts on here’s the thing? Well, probably not. After all, Apple rumor stories are like catnip for tech bloggers, and I’m certainly no exception.

Let’s be clear, however: At this point, all we know for sure about the next iPhone is that we hardly know anything.

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