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Apple Daily, a Hong Kong publication today has images of what they say is the next iPad compared to iPad 1 and 2.  You’ll notice increased tapering and a bigger camera lens.  The publication says that the camera is a whopping 8 megapixels which would likely mean that it is the same Sony camera in the iPhone 4S that CEO Howard Stinger first leaked in April of last year.Designer iPhone 4 Cases|Designer iPhone 4S Cases|Designer iPhone 4 Case|Designer iPhone 4S Case

We first heard reports of 5-8 megapixel cameras in the next iPad at the end of last year in a wide ranging set of reports.

Apple.pro grabbed some images of the print version that seem to show the tapering better.Louis Vuitton iPhone 4 Cases|Louis Vuitton iPhone 4S Case|Louis Vuitton iPhone 4S Cases|Louis Vuitton iPhone 4 Case

The iPad 3 picture seems to be coming together but that doesn’t mean there aren’t going to be some surprises.

Apple Daily also note new cabling, pictured below:

Staples has 2x$25 iTunes gift cards for $40 with free shipping.  At 20% off, that matches the lowest price we’ve seen.  The promo lasts until Feb. 25th.  iTunes gift cards can be used on Music, Videos, iBooks, iOS Apps  and Mac Apps (including Mountain Lion).Louis Vuitton iPhone 4 Cases|Louis Vuitton iPhone 4S Cases

Also, remember we’re partnering with MacMall until the end of the month to bring you the lowest prices on new Mac desktops including Minis starting at $551.88 and iMacs starting at $1086.82.Chanel iPhone 4 Cases|Chanel iPhone 4S Cases|Chanel iPhone 4 Case|Chanel iPhone 4S Case

All discounts, including higher end models listed below:

Analyst John Kinnucan is charged with two counts of securities fraud, two counts of conspiracy, and insider trading for leaking sales numbers from Apple, reported Reuters. The lawsuits against the analyst were filed in a U.S. District Court in Manhattan, and he was arrested on Thursday.

Kinnucan received tips from Apple’s suppliers SanDisk and Flextronics so he could leak sales numbers and forecasts to hedge funds. One SanDisk executive, Don Barnetson, is also in court on counts for insider trading. Kinnucan leaked the secret information about the iPhone’s sales between 2008 and 2010, and he would get the information by bribing suppliers. He is rumored to have earned $1.58 million for leaking Apple’s trade secrets.Louis Vuitton iPhone 4 Case|Louis Vuitton iPhone 4S Case

Between 2008 and 2010, investigators said, Kinnucan paid insiders with cash, trips and other benefits to get secret information, including sales trends for Apple Inc’s iPhone. Kinnucan then funneled the information to hedge fund traders in California and New York in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars, investigators said.

Kinnucan’s arrest is part of a bigger crack down on insider trading within hedge funds. Over 60 people were already arrested during the operation, dubbed “Operation Perfect Hedge,” including a Flextronics executive for leaking iPhone sales numbers.

Kinnucan is currently in police custody until another hearing on Wednesday.Gucci iPhone 4 cases|Gucci iPhone 4S cases|Gucci iPhone 4 case|Gucci iPhone 4S case

In 2010, the SEC launched an investigation at Apple’s supply chains to investigate whether the analyst obtained information properly.

“Insider trading basically comes down to where you know or ought to know that the person from whom you’re getting this information has a duty to someone else to keep it confidential,” said former Securities and Exchange Commission Paul Atkins in a video interview with The Wall Street Journal. “If you go in and pay the mail clerk to give you special information, that’s not proper.”

Stop what you are doing and go download VLC v 2.0.0. The video player that can view just about any audio or video file is finally available after being teased last week.Louis Vuitton iPhone 4 Cases|Louis Vuitton iPhone 4S Cases

After 485 million downloads of VLC 1.1.x versions, VideoLAN and the VLC development team present VLC 2.0.0 “Twoflower”, a major new release. With faster decoding on multi-core, GPU, and mobile hardware and the ability to open more formats, notably professional, HD and 10bits codecs, 2.0 is a major upgrade for VLC. Twoflower has a new rendering pipeline for video, with higher quality subtitles, and new video filters to enhance your videos. It supports many new devices and BluRay Discs (experimental).
It features a completely reworked Mac and Web interfaces and improvements in the other interfaces make VLC easier than ever to use. Twoflower fixes several hundreds of bugs, in more than 7000 commits from 160 volunteers.

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More information on the release notes below. (via MacStories)

CNET reported that Apple settled 18 suits bundled as a Class-action lawsuit over the “Antennagate” “scandal.”  Each iPhone 4 owner (it is not clear if Verizon iPhone 4 users who had different radios/Antenna are exempt) is entitled to a $15 cash settlement or a bumper. Apple began offering bumpers to users shortly after the release and the subsequent press conference to address the issue (as well as returns, no restocking fee or questions asked).

The settlement found:Louis Vuitton iPhone 4 Case|Louis Vuitton iPhone 4S Case

Apple was “misrepresenting and concealing material information in the marketing, advertising, sale, and servicing of its iPhone 4–particularly as it relates to the quality of the mobile phone antenna and reception and related software.”

 

The settlement has its own Web site, www.iPhone4Settlement.com, which will be up in the coming weeks (the site doesn’t go anywhere right now). There, customers will be able to get information about the settlement and how to make a claim. As part of the arrangement, e-mails will also be sent alerting original buyers to the settlement before April 30, 2012. The claims period is then open for 120 days.

“We believe that the Apple iPhone 4 settlement is fair, adequate, and reasonable,” said co-lead counsel Ira Rothken, who represents the class, to CNET. “We believe that it allows members of the class to choose, and they can get $15 of cash or a bumper, so we believe that type of choice is proportional to the circumstances.”

Consumer Reports, who could not recommend the iPhone 4 based on the problem, demonstrated above, said the iPhone 4S was free of this issue.

Apple still sells the iPhone 4 with what we believe is the same design as the one used above, so it is not certain how this settlement will affect those sales.

Update: Statement from Apple via the Loop:Coach iPhone 4 Case |Coach iPhone 4S Case |Hello Kitty iPhone 4S Covers|Hello Kitty iPhone 4 Covers

“This settlement relates to a small number of customers who indicated that they experienced antenna or reception issues with their iPhone 4 and didn’t want to take advantage of a free case from Apple while it was being offered in 2010,”

CNET reported that Apple settled 18 suits bundled as a Class-action lawsuit over the “Antennagate” “scandal.”  Each iPhone 4 owner (it is not clear if Verizon iPhone 4 users who had different radios/Antenna are exempt) is entitled to a $15 cash settlement or a bumper. Apple began offering bumpers to users shortly after the release and the subsequent press conference to address the issue (as well as returns, no restocking fee or questions asked).

The settlement found:Louis Vuitton iPhone 4 Case|Louis Vuitton iPhone 4S Case

Apple was “misrepresenting and concealing material information in the marketing, advertising, sale, and servicing of its iPhone 4–particularly as it relates to the quality of the mobile phone antenna and reception and related software.”

 

The settlement has its own Web site, www.iPhone4Settlement.com, which will be up in the coming weeks (the site doesn’t go anywhere right now). There, customers will be able to get information about the settlement and how to make a claim. As part of the arrangement, e-mails will also be sent alerting original buyers to the settlement before April 30, 2012. The claims period is then open for 120 days.

“We believe that the Apple iPhone 4 settlement is fair, adequate, and reasonable,” said co-lead counsel Ira Rothken, who represents the class, to CNET. “We believe that it allows members of the class to choose, and they can get $15 of cash or a bumper, so we believe that type of choice is proportional to the circumstances.”

Consumer Reports, who could not recommend the iPhone 4 based on the problem, demonstrated above, said the iPhone 4S was free of this issue.

Apple still sells the iPhone 4 with what we believe is the same design as the one used above, so it is not certain how this settlement will affect those sales.

Update: Statement from Apple via the Loop:Coach iPhone 4 Case |Coach iPhone 4S Case |Hello Kitty iPhone 4S Covers|Hello Kitty iPhone 4 Covers

“This settlement relates to a small number of customers who indicated that they experienced antenna or reception issues with their iPhone 4 and didn’t

The most mainstream technology company-related controversy within the past few weeks is most likely the issue of Chinese supplier-working conditions. In January, the New York Times published a lengthy and controversial report about the supposed conditions in these supplier factories. The report claimed to source its information from former Apple executives, and it paints Apple and its suppliers in a horrible light. As we exclusively revealed, Apple CEO Tim Cook responded to the Times’ report and said, “We care about every worker in our worldwide supply chain. Any accident is deeply troubling, and any issue with working conditions is cause for concern.”Louis Vuitton iPhone 4 Case|Louis Vuitton iPhone 4S Case

Apple and Cook went even further and opened Apple’s supply chain to a full review by the Fair Labor Association. Cook recently spoke about Apple’s supply chain safety efforts at the Goldman Sach’s conference earlier this week. Now, in an unprecedented move, Apple granted ABC Nightline full access to its Chinese supply chain. ABC’s Bill Weir traveled to Shenzhen, China for an exclusive look inside Apple’s supply chain, and ABC provided the following quote from Weir about his trip:Designer iPad 2 Case|Louis Vuitton iPad 2 Case|Chanel iPad 2 Case|Gucci iPad 2 Case

Pitchers and Catchers are set to report over the next few days and MLB is getting its 2012 App ready

Baseball fans will be happy to hear that Major League Baseball is again bringing the MLB at Bat app back to the App Store so they can enjoy every game throughout the season on their iOS device. In previous years, the MLB at Bat app on the App Store made available audio of the games and in-game statistics. A premium package could open video for all games. This year, MLB is changing the way they bring you games.Louis Vuitton iPhone 4 Case|Louis Vuitton iPhone 4S Case

Luckily for this season, MLB confirmed with EverythingiCafe that MLB at Bat ’12 would be available for free on the App Store for both the iPhone and iPad— as long as you pay for the one time subscription. The app will stream both audio and video and bring in-game stats.

MLB at Bat ’12 will be available Feb. 29 for free. However, if you want to use the app, you will have to pay a once-a-year $119 subscription as a returning customer or $125 as a new customer. Those who subscribe can view 150 Spring Training games and all 2,430 regular season games, though some are subject black outs. You can now sign up for the MLB.TV season on the MLB website. The first game will stream March 3.Burberry iPad 2 Case|Swarovski Crystal Cases|Louis Vuitton iPhone 5 Case|Best iPhone 4S Case

What does it mean when a game is blacked out? Well, that is when a team is playing in a local viewing area or they are playing out-of-town. Blacked out games are available in the MLB at Bat archives just 90 minutes after the game finishes, but MLB at Bat does have special streaming agreements with certain areas that are frustrating for viewers whose local teams must obey the terms.

Last year, each app for MLB at Bat cost $14.99 along with a $100 subscription which makes this year’s a little more expensive. If you plan to get both the iPhone and iPad app, this year’s plan is cheaper by $5 for new customers and $10 for existing customers.

MLB games can also stream from an Apple TV with the $124.99-a-year premium plan. NBA also has streaming capability on the Apple TV with a $40 iOS app so you can watch all the games, including post-game wrap-ups.

For any baseball fan, this is definitely a much-needed app. Its ability to bring in-game stats and video to almost any platform (including Android, BlackBerry, and web) is worth the price tag.

Despite reports from Reuters earlier this week profiling Fair Labor Association CEO Auret van Heerden’s positive reaction to the early inspections of Apple’s suppliers in Shenzhen, China, Bloombergannounced today van Heerden’s comments actually “reflected his previous interactions with Foxconn.” In contrast to Reuters original article, during a phone interview with Bloomberg, van Heerden said, “We’re finding tons of issues.”:Designer iPhone 4 Case|Designer iPhone 4S Case

“We’re finding tons of issues. I believe we’re going to see some very significant announcements in the near future.”

Bloomberg explained van Heerden’s initial comments to Reuters, where he claimed iPad plants are “far better” than most other factories in the country, were based upon his reflections from earlier experiences with Foxconn and Apple:Coach iPhone 4 Case|Coach iPhone 4S Case|

Van Heerden said the comments reflected his previous interactions with Foxconn… Apple had commissioned the FLA to carry out smaller projects in the past two years, in order to try out some of the inspection techniques used by the group to more effectively root out workplace problems.

The FLA will report its findings in the coming weeks and publish them to its website. As for the inspection process currently taking place at Foxconn, Bloomberg detailed the process from van Heerden’s perspective:Louis Vuitton iPhone 4 Case|Louis Vuitton iPhone 4S Case

Van Heerden said that FLA’s 30-person inspection team will interview 35,000 Foxconn employees, via meetings with small groups of randomly picked workers, chosen to reflect the demographics of the campus in terms of age, gender and skill levels. As part of the process, workers log answers to questions on tablets connected to FLA servers so they can be tabulated.

Macrumors claimed to have obtained one of the screens floating around on the Internet from iPad 3 production. Putting it under a microscope, the publication indeed discovered it has 4 times the pixels as an iPad 2 or double the horizontal and double the vertical, which yields 2,048-by-1,536 pixels.Hermes iPhone 4 Case|Hermes iPhone 4S Case|Chanel iPhone 4 Case|Chanel iPhone 4S Case

Physically, the purported iPad 3 display is the same size as the current iPad 1 and iPad 2 display at 9.7″ in diagonal, and looks quite similar to the naked eye.

 

However, when comparing the iPad 3 display to one from an iPad 2 under a microscope, the difference in resolutions becomes readily apparent, with the iPad 3 display’s pixels appearing to be one-quarter the size of those on the iPad 2.

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We are just a few weeks away from the anticipated March 7 announcement. While the Retina display was expected for some time, there might still be some surprises.

Instagram, Apple’s 2011 “App of the Year,” just released an update to its iOS application that includes a sleek user interface, tappable notifications, a new filter, and an enhancement feature.Designer iPhone 4 Cases|Designer iPhone 4S Cases|Designer iPhone 4 Case|Designer iPhone 4S Case

The app is a free photo-manipulator that allows users to snap pictures, apply hip vintage filters, and then share their edited images through a built-in social network. Users can also share their creations through other services, such as Twitter, Facebook, or Tumblr.

The newest version allots a much-needed facelift and provides a more modern appearance than the previous variant by displaying an overhauled header and menu buttons (as seen in the screenshot to the right).

“We’ve simplified the look of Instagram,” announced the San Francisco-based Company in a blog post.

More screenshots are availablebelow.

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The simplified service does not stop with a revamped look, however. The notification upgrade in the iOS Notification Center now brings users directly to an image, comment, or profile within the app. The company said these improved tweaks are the “first steps toward” making Instagram more interactive and understandable.

The Sierra filter also makes version 2.1 noteworthy. The element powerfully pops the yellow saturation of an image to create a warm 1970s feel while adding an eggshell-colored square border. Meanwhile, the Lux enhancement feature amplifies dull details by brightening any under-lit photograph. The app developer even provided a blog post to users interested in knowing more about Lux and how it functions.

Instagram version 2.1 is a free update and available now at the App Store.  Oh, and in related news, the girlfriend of Instagram cofounder Mike Krieger recently unveiled Lovestagram— a Valentine’s Day-themed spinoff. The website uses Instagram photographs to create personal valentines for loved ones. Users can sign into their Instagram accounts through Lovestagram to start editing something special before the Cupid holiday occurs.

Anyway, back to those Instagram screenshots:

Apple, today, has filed a lawsuit against Motorola over their use of Qualcomm technology, asreported by Reuters. Apple explains that Motorola has breached a contract pertaining to their use of a patent license and “asks this Court to enjoin Motorola from prosecuting and 4 enforcing its claims against Apple in Germany.”

Permanent injunctive relief restraining Motorola and its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, agents, employees, servants, licensors, successors, assigns, and all those acting in concert with them, from prosecuting patent infringement proceedings against Apple based on Apple’s use of the Qualcomm MDM6610 chip and other Qualcomm components licensed under Motorola patents in any forum other than this Court

The root of the lawsuit is essentially Apple’s strike-back at Motorola for attempting to stop sales of Apple’s 3G products in Germany. The lawsuit’s referencing of Qualcomm’s chips is a nod to the iPhone 4S, which uses a Qualcomm baseband chip, not being removed for that short amount of time when Apple won a temporary injunction of Apple’s 3G products in Germany.Chanel iPhone 4 Cases|Chanel iPhone 4S Cases|Chanel iPhone 4 Case|Chanel iPhone 4S Case

The full lawsuit filing can be viewed here.

We told you in November that Apple had prototypes of an unreleased 15-inch MacBook Airfloating around its Cupertino, Calif.-based headquarters. While it is in many ways similar to the 11- and 13-inch MacBook Air designs currently on the market, the prospect of a 15-inch Air left the future of Apple’s MacBook Pro lineup in question.Louis Vuitton iPhone 4 Case|Louis Vuitton iPhone 4S Case

We followed reports from iLounge in February 2011 that indicated Apple was working on a new MacBook Pro lineup for a 2012 launch described as a “milestone” for the product line. Now,AppleInsider is claiming the technology giant will launch a revamped Air-like MacBook Pros sometime this year…

Early last week, Apple discontinued the white plastic MacBook, which had been an education-only item since mid-2011, but is continuing to sell the product to education institutions while supplies last. The remaining supplies are being sold for $899, and sources say that Apple’s white MacBook inventory for educational institutions is still rather high. While white MacBooks for education are a thing of the past, Apple is not giving up on education: they are launching two new MacBook Airs for schools programs today.Louis Vuitton iPhone 4 Cases|Louis Vuitton iPhone 4S Cases

The first new program is called MacBook Air 5-Pack Bundles and allows schools to purchase the MacBook Air in bundles of five at a discount. There are six bundle options, and each bundle saves schools $20 per MacBook Air:

Apple just posted a new video on its iPad in Business page profiling the Theatre Consultants Collaborative, which is a theatre design, planning, and programming company that applies the iPad in just about every aspect of its daily operations. The company employs iPads for everything from budgets, documents, and architectural drawings that exercise AutoCAD WS to conference calls through the GoToMeeting app and Audio Tools for identifying sound frequencies of a performance space.Louis Vuitton iPhone 4 Case|Louis Vuitton iPhone 4S Case

The next time you walk into a theater or concert hall, take a moment to think about the space around you: the way the lights come up and dim, the way sound carries or doesn’t. Theatre Consultants Collaborative, or TCC, uses iPad to design and build performing arts spaces around the world. The group helps clients establish engineering specifications, plan infrastructure, and arrange interiors to accommodate lighting and sound systems, sight lines, stage rigging, and specialty equipment.

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A regular AT&T SIM card (left) and a 4G LTE Micro-SIM (right). Click for larger.

A new batch of Micro-SIMs arrived at AT&T stores. We would normally pass on the news—if those were normal non-miniaturized 4G LTE Micro-SIMs. Based on an anonymous tip, Phone Arena noted AT&T now getting LTE Micro-SIM cards “could be an indication that the next iPhone will finally support 4G LTE connectivity.” If you ask us, those are likely for the Nokia Lumia 900 that is hitting the AT&T network on March 18.Louis Vuitton iPhone 4 Cases|Louis Vuitton iPhone 4S Cases

Granted, it is not entirely out of question that AT&T LTE Micro-SIMs are in anticipation of a sixth-generation iPhone that is presumably scheduled for an announcement this summer. Apple was the first major handset maker to switch to tiny 3G SIM cards with iPhone 4, which was a move born out of necessity due to space constraints in the 9.3mm device. The iPhone 4/4S are the only Apple products compatible with the Micro-SIM standard.

What about the iPad 3, you ask….

We can only speculate at this point, of course, but it would make sense to use the smaller Micro-SIM and save some space inside if the iPad 3 is a 4G LTE device. Why is that important? Well, Apple will likely add some extra battery capacity to power the iPad 3′s “truly amazing” Retina Display without sacrificing its legendary 10-hour battery life. A bigger battery will apparently make the next iPad just a tad thicker, so space will definitely be at premium. Do not forget that the radios for LTE will also add some weight, so an LTE Micro-SIM instead of the regular SIM card sounds like a prudent move.

As iPad 3 parts begin floating around, the rumor-mill is calling for an early-March announcement based on a tip by AllThingsD.

The CEO of JC Penney Ron Johnson sat with CBS “This Morning” to defend his company’s new spokesperson Ellen DeGeneres from attacks by the religious group One Million Moms that seeks to boycott the retailer if it did not axe DeGeneres over her sexual orientation. Putting the controversy aside, the interview (available on the CBS website and over at YouTube) gets interesting at mark 3:50 when Johnson reflects on his long tenure as Apple’s Vice President of Retail. The “Steve Jobs of the retail industry,” as some have dubbed him, said retailing is anything but a walk in the park:Designer iPhone 4 Case|Designer iPhone 4S Case

Retailing is hard and that’s what Steve said when we started stores at Apple. But you look, you know, dozen years later and the stores are really popular with people. And they’re really popular because people know that the store cares more what the product does for them than just selling the products. At Apple, in many ways, the relationship with the customer begins when they buy.

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Johnson, 53, drew parallels to how he built the Apple Stores on experience. Before joining Apple in January 2000, Johnson served as Target’s Vice President of Merchandising. He left Apple in November 2011 to take the reins at JC Penney. Apple hired CEO of Dixons John Browett as Johnson’s replacement, prompting pundits to opine how folks consider Dixons stores “the worst of Best Buy and Radio Shack combined.” When asked about the lessons he learned from Apple’s cofounder, Johnson responded:Louis Vuitton iPhone 4 Case|Louis Vuitton iPhone 4S Case

Oh, I learned so much from Steve. It was a blessing to get to work for 12 years with, you know, one of the greatest people our country has ever had. But the most important thing he told me was to trust your intuition and do the right thing. Steve just said if you do the right thing and focus on just one thing at a time you’re best, you’ll end up in a really good place.

After illustrating his vast experience as Apple’s chief of retail, where he pioneered the concept of Genius Bar and upscale shopping experience, the executive pledged to apply the same long-term customer relationship approach to re-imagine JC Penney stores:

The most important thing is, we have extraordinary respect for customers. We think people live busy lives and the world’s pretty complicated. So we wanna simplify things.

At this point, the anchor interrupted Johnson and asked whether JC Penney stores will open 24/7 like Apple’s Fifth Avenue store:Hermes iPhone 4 Case|Hermes iPhone 4S Case

We think stores should be a part of people’s lives, but they shouldn’t interrupt people’s lives. So we’re not gonna do this early morning things where we have to get up at 4am to get good value. We kinda want you to rest in our stores, we wanna you to live your life wherever that needs to be. If you gotta coach soccer for the kids, go coach soccer.

The next iPad will have the name “iPad 3,” according to the consensus of rumors, and it features a faster processor/GPU while remaining the same size as the current iPad 2. Its unveiling is in a month and will be available (in Wi-Fi certainly) almost immediately after.

The big differentiator this year is the “Retina Display” with a staggering 2048-by-1536 pixel screen, likely made by Sharp/Samsung/LG. An Apple employee told The New York Times that the display was “truly amazing” and it must be with a pixel count that lies between the 21- and 27-inch iMacs squeezed into a 9.7-inch display. Consider: You can watch a Blu-ray movie at native resolution with over 100 pixels on the side and nearly 500 pixels below to “play with.”

Oh, by the way: How many megapixels is 2048-by-1536? Just over 3.Chanel iPhone 4 Case|Chanel iPhone 4S Case

That screen sounds like it might take more juice to power, but Apple will add some extra battery capacity, which might make the iPad 3 slightly thicker. The battery life will likely continue with 10 hours as the baseline (why make the case slightly bigger or smaller otherwise?).

One of the unanswered questions is whether the Samsung S5L8945X inside will be a dual or quad core processor. While this is mostly a “speeds and feeds” type of question and will not relate too much to real-world performance, it would seem that the overwhelming evidence points to quad-core. Apple’s iPad 2 was one of the first dual core tablets and with NVIDIA getting set to announce a group of quad core phones, Apple’s once a year upgrade would suggest a quad. As theS5L8945X name implies above, there will be some extra horsepower on the GPU side as well.Gucci iPhone 4 Case|Gucci iPhone 4S Case

LTE capability is also a big question. The radios for LTE will add some weight and cost, while also acting as a harder hit on the battery. However, with Apple’s once a year release cycle and the overwhelming amount of evidence that has tied Apple to LTE, it would seem that Apple will have a LTE iPad—but perhaps one not available at the launch. Next generation lower power LTE chips are just coming off the assembly lines at Qualcomm.

More, including Bluetooth, Camera, NFC, Gig Wifi, and Thunderbolt is available below:Burberry iPhone 4 Case|Burberry iPhone 4S Case

Bluetooth 4.0: The iPad will almost certainly come with the next-generation Broadcom chips that shipped with the iPhone 4S to allow low-power and speedy Bluetooth coupling.

Siri: One of the bigger questions is whether Sirimakes sense on the iPad. People do not generally hold the iPad up to their faces in everyday use, and the microphone would need improvements and somehow re-jiggered to give iPad users an acceptable Siri experience. We think Siri gives the iPad 3 some added wow quality so, that leads to…

Microphone: Microphone housing on iPad 3 parts are different that iPad 2, according to some ‘leaked parts.’ It is unknown how they are implemented but improvements here would almost give Apple a legitimate reason not to include Siri on the iPad 2.

Gig Wi-Fi: This is a long shot, but there are some new Gig Wi-Fi Chips coming from Broadcomthat could push the iPad’s wireless capabilities into the stratosphere. Before dismissing the idea, remember that at some point people will need to reliably stream 1080P movies around, which is not always possible on typical congested 802.11N networks.

The U.S. still ranks in as one of the world’s most important places for smartphones, with 97.9 million people owning smartphones during Q4 2011. When it comes to worldwide sales, Research Firm IDC  yesterday released its estimates for December. They found that Apple passed LG to become the third-largest smartphone manufacturer worldwide, with an 8.7-percent market share in Q4 2011, and a 6 percent market share in 2011 as a whole. Nokia remains in the top spot with 26.6-percent, followed by Samsung who has 22.8-percent. You can check out the graphs after the break for the full run-down:Burberry iPhone 4 Case|Burberry iPhone 4S Case