Samsung refutes talk of Galaxy S II delays, promises April launch in at least some places

So yesterday we learned that Samsung's planning to speed up the dual-core Exynos processor inside its Galaxy S II to 1.2GHz, but there was also word that the handset may suffer a setback in terms of release date. Today, the company has tweeted out a two-part notice assuring us that that will not be the case and things are proceeding "as planned.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

 

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Sony CEO casually mentions he's supplying cameras to Apple

We were tempted to call it an April Fools' joke, but it seems the story's true: Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer reportedly let slip that his company is producing cameras for the next batch of iPhones and iPads during a public interview with the Wall Street Journal. Traditionally, Apple's sourced its sensors from OmniVision, including the delightfully backside-illuminated 5 megapixel CMOS unit you'll find in the iPhone 4, but since Sony too has BSI tech and OmniVision has reportedly encountered delays, your next portable Apple product might house a Sony Exmor R sensor like the one we admired on the Xperia Arc.

 

Apple said to be testing three iPhone 5 models, including one with a slide-out keyboard

A new rumor from Taiwanese Apple enthusiast blog Apple.pro suggests that Apple is currently testing three different prototypes of what will eventually become the iPhone 5.

One such prototype, the report claims, features a slide-out physical keyboard similar to the one seem above (which is a hardware accessory for the currently iPhone 4).

 

Verizon's FiOS DVR Manager for iPhone gets a facelift and some new features

Just like Boxee, Verizon's rolled out a February 14th update to users with the FiOS DVR Manager for iPhone, who might actually be on Verizon for their phones now too.

It adds support for controlling multiple DVRs, a refreshed UI to match the latest version 1.9 on set-top boxes, access for non-DVR users, and a "What's Hot" feature showing what others in your area are watching.

 

Is Apple no longer the BMW of tech?

Apple, so the story used to go, will never be cheap. The company will do everything possible to ensure that its products are more expensive and more exclusive.
And yet rumors persist that there will soon be smaller, cheaper iPhones.

 

Apple securing $7.8 billion worth of Samsung displays, memory?

When Apple announced earnings last month, the company's CFO mysteriously dropped a bit of info about a big contract the company signed worth $3.9 billion. He declined to elaborate further except to say that it was for product components that Apple feels will be central to its future products.