HTC 606w shows up in China - Ultrapixels moving to other phones?

The HTC 606w may sound like a lightbulb, but it is in fact souped-up HTC First without the tedious burden ofFacebook Home to contend with.

HTC tried to sneak the device through Chinese regulatory channels but it was spotted by Digi.Tech which managed to skim off some renders of the handset, showing off a natty blue piping around the bezel of an otherwise fairly uninspiring handset.

On to the HTC 606w's specs, and we're looking at an Ultrapixel camera on the back, 4.3-inch 720p display boasting 342ppi and a 1.2GHz processor to keep the whole thing chugging along.

Battery woe

Unfortunately, it's rocking a 1700mAh battery which may be a bit on the weak side for the mooted specs.

The HTC 606w is running Android 4.1.2 with the HTC Sense 5.0 overlay, and there's also 2GB of RAM and 16GB of device storage to play with.

No word on an official device name nor possible release date but we'll be keeping the heat on HTC til it makes the 606w all official.

LG press invites hint at a new device unveil on May 1

The event features the heading "share the genius," and as is usually the case with announcement events from major manufacturers, cryptically urges us to "Capture the Spotlight in True Brilliance."

What they'll be revealing is really anyone's guess, but the "true brilliance" bit likely refers to a new Optimus device with a sharper display, like an Optimus G Pro for the US market, or perhaps a new Optimus altogether.

Be sure to check back with us on the 1st for all the latest on LG's newest device.

Apple offering replacements for Apple TV boxes with busted Wi-Fi

Without Wi-Fi connectivity, an unthethered Apple TV set-top box might make a decent coaster, or maybe a makeshift hockey puck? Beyond that it's difficult to think of many plausible uses for the little blighter.

So it's good to hear that Apple has opened a replacement programme for the small number of users it says are experiencing issues with the wireless connections on their devices.

The company revealed the problem is affecting a limited number of owners of the most recent third-generation, £100 (USD$100, AUD$109) media streamer.

Apple has informed staff at retail stores: "Apple has determined that a very small number of Apple TV (3rd generation) products might experience one of these Wi-Fi related connectivity issues: Cannot locate network, Unable to join network, Dropped or intermittent connection."

Help is on the way

If an Apple technician or store employee believes the unit is being affected by the issue then it'll replace the device free of charge, providing it matches the identified serial number criteria.

The offer of a replacement, uncovered by 9to5Mac, is valid for up to two years after the original purchase date.

That boot to desktop feature for Windows 8.1 is apparently in testing

Microsoft's Windows Blue update is sure to bring a lot of changes to Windows 8, and chief among those could be a boot to desktop option and the return of the Windows Start menu.

Windows Blue (alternately referred to by some as Windows 8.1) could add these major features, Windows staples that Microsoft purposely left out of Windows 8 to make the OS more appealing to mobile and touchscreen users.

In its current state, Windows 8 boots directly to the not-Metro interface filled with colorful tiles, but there are plenty of legacy Windows users out there who would appreciate the option to boot directly to the traditional Windows desktop. The old school Start button coming back would be the icing on the Windows cake.

It's not a definite yet, but two disparate reports today each attempted to shed some light on whether the Start button and boot to desktop really will be included in Windows 8.1.

Can suppress start screen; will suppress start screen?

The rumor of an option to boot Windows 8.1 directly to the desktop environment first appeared this week, when forum users digging through the code spotted a line called "CanSuppressStartScreen."

That's been interpreted to be a feature that will allow Windows 8.1 users to skip the new-fangled start screen and begin immediately on the desktop.

Microsoft hasn't confirmed either way, but The Verge reported today that it had verified with "sources familiar with Microsoft's plans" that Windows 8.1's boot to desktop feature is currently in testing.

That's by no means a guarantee that boot to desktop will be included in the final Windows 8.1 release, but with even Microsoft's Windows Product Manager Ian Moulster suddenly emphasizing the speed and security of the Windows 8 desktop, it's seeming like more and more of a possibility.

And the Start button?

The Verge mentioned in its report that Microsoft is "highly unlikely" to bring the traditional Start menu back, but another report published today byZDNet told a different story.

According to the site's sources, both the boot to desktop feature and the return of the Start button in Windows 8.1 are being considered at Microsoft HQ.

At this point "anything can change," the source reported, but at least it's being considered.

R.I.P. desktop (or maybe not)

The collective death knell for the Windows desktop has been sounding as reports that Windows Blue could be another nail in the desktop's coffin have flooded in from many sides.

But if these reports of the rise of the Windows 8 desktop and Start button pan out, it seems many may be eating our words.

At least in this case, we think they'd be glad to.

Galaxy Tab 3 Plus 'Roma' specs are more impressive in latest leak

A new set of specs for an upcoming Samsung tablet that reportedly carries the codename "Roma" leaked today to form an impressive image.

The last time we heard the name Samsung Roma was January, when it was attached to a leaked Samsung tablet with a 2560 x 1600 resolution.

"Roma" could be the codename for the Galaxy Tab 3 Plus, part of a range that was half expected to debut at Mobile World Congress 2013.

It didn't, but after two (contradictory, we might add) leaks this week it seems the Galaxy Tab 3 Plus "Roma" could be close to a debut.

Roma = Galaxy Tab 3 Plus?

The first 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 3 leak this week came Monday, and though the word "Roma" was never mentioned, a 1280 x 800 display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, and 3-megapixel camera (all of which reportedly matched an 8-inch counterpart) were. Those specs were topped off by 1GB of RAM and a 7000mAh battery.

Android Community reported on that leak, but amended its stance with a new post today alleging that the aforementioned 10.1-inch tablet will actually be significantly more noteworthy. This is where "Roma" came back into play.

The new leaked specs peg the Samsung Roma tablet (model number P-8200) with Android 4.2: Jelly Bean, a 10.1-inch 2560 x 1600 display, a dual-core 1.7GHz Exynos 5 processor, 2GB of memory, 16GB of storage, and a 5-megapixel rear camera with a 1.9-megapixel camera on the front.

Add to that a Mali-T604 GPU, a 9000mAh battery, microSD support, and options for 3G/HSPA or LTE, and the Roma / Galaxy Tab 3 Plus / whatever this device actually is comes out looking more impressive than was initially thought.

We've asked Samsung to confirm some of the details in this report, but so far the company is staying silent.

Hands on: Samsung Galaxy Mega review

There was the Note. Then the Note 2. But has Samsung finally pushed things too far with the 6.3-inch Galaxy Mega, or is it the ultimate fusion of tablet and smartphone?

The Galaxy Mega might not have a price yet, but it's certainly not going to be jostling with the Galaxy S4 at her sharp end of the smartphone market. Packing a 1.7GHz dual core processor and 1.5GB of RAM, it's not slouch in the performance department, but it's a far cry from the power and force of the S4 or even last year's S3.

So who is it aimed at, this gargantuan effort at a smartphone? Samsung tells us that it's the 'perfect device of students', which means it dispenses with the need for a phone and a tablet. The subtext there is affordability, and there's no doubt the Galaxy Mega is going to be closer to the mid-range market.

That said, and perhaps it's an acceptance of the likes of the Galaxy Note 2, but that whopping screen didn't feel too bad in the hand at all. It's huge, that's for certain, and no matter what, you're going to feel stupid holding it to your ear.

But given we said the same thing about the Note 2 last year (and has since gone on to be one of the world's top selling phones) there's clearly an appetite for a phone that is great for the Internet and video with the ability to make calls too.

The Samsung Galaxy Mega does have a surprisingly clear and sharp screen for a phone / tablet that isn't full HD nor uses Samsung's proprietary Super AMOLED technology either, opting for an HD PLS LCD effort instead.

We were therefore expecting low colour reproduction and a slightly jagged experience, but even at the larger screen size we were really impressed when it came to video and Internet use, with everything appearing clear and sharp.

Holding the phone to do these things was less of a joy, as you can imagine - it wasn't too heavy in the hand when using with only a single palm, but try to do anything like send a text message and you have to do so using one hand to brace yourself before knocking out a missive.

The messaging system is much more accurate than found on the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S3, which has a simply woeful keyboard. We can still see any user installing a new option ASAP, but what was on offer wasn't bad.

It's clear to see that the Galaxy Mega is a phone that's the first to feed off the design ethos of the Galaxy S4, with the more robust feel to the chassis and a more metallic rim around the edge.

Like so many Galaxy products, the Mega is as light as can be - you'll struggle to believe that something this large can weigh so little and still actually work. It's only got up to 16GB of onboard storage, but this can be supplemented using the microSD slot hidden under the flimsy polycarbonate cover.

Compared to a Samsung Galaxy S3, it's huge

There's also an impressive 3200mAh battery, which should power the massive screen for a full day and still leave you a good slug of juice should you forget to charge up during the night. We couldn't test the battery power due to the fact it was locked to a charger in our hands on time, but we've got high hopes for this one.

The Samsung Galaxy Mega comes with a similar feature to the Galaxy S4 in the shape of a high power touchscreen than allows you to use gloves with the device, and also gives you Air View. This function allows you to hover a finger over things like photo albums or calendar entries to see more of what's hidden beneath without having to actually open it.

Taking more features from the Samsung Galaxy S4, the camera mode has been upgraded to include drama shot (to let you put loads of frames into one still) and Eraser mode, sponsored by Schwarzenegger (WE JOKE, it's a film reference).

We tried the latter at the event, and we have to say it was really impressive - more so than on our early tests with the S4, which means Samsung is probably managing to perfect the technology.

There was one big problem during our experience, and that was with the overall running of the device. You'd have thought that a phone / tablet with a 1.7GHz processor and 1.5GB fo RAM could have handled anything you threw at it, but twice we had a forced reboot situation.

This was when we were trying to use the device for its more taxing purposes, such as multi-screen or Eraser shot, and was a bit of a worry.

You always allow for elements like this to occur when testing devices on a stand, as the software is never fully ready for proper review. However, perhaps it's an indication of where we've got to these days, but it was still surprising to see it happening on a device from Samsung, which is usually rock solid in this area.

However, like most brands, we'll give it the benefit of the doubt until the final review sample is made available.

Early verdict

Samsung has done something odd to the world - it's made the phone and tablet combination acceptable. We should have been almost disgusted at the size of this phone, but unlike the Asus FonePad it doesn't seem irrational to hold it in your hand.

It brings the sharpness of much higher-res screen and doesn't feel overly cumbersome in your hand, which is impressive.

We're a little worried by the lag that was present in our early tests, but given few Samsung phones show this in final software, we're sure it will be sorted.

The presence of the advanced camera modes is a boon, as is the improved power of the touchscreen to mimic its more powerful brother.

We can't really understand why Samsung hasn't made this a more powerful device - but it makes us hanker for what it's going to do with the Galaxy Note 3.

Microsoft: emphasis on Start Screen shackled Windows 8

Not that bothered about Windows 8? You're not alone. To even the most disinterested observer, it's clear Microsoft has a lot work to do to get people enthused about its touch-centric efforts, and the forthcoming Windows 8.1 (Windows Blue) update is a big part of that.

Global PC sales are in huge decline, and although Windows 8 isn't totally to blame and some retailers have a better story, it's palpable that Microsoft faces a massive challenge to keep Windows relevant and encourage us to upgrade our PCs - especially in the face of somedepressing views from partners and rumoured price cuts.

We met Microsoft's Windows Product Manager Ian Moulster away from the show floor at the recent UK Gadget Show to get an update on how things are going with the OS. The change in tone from previous Windows 8 briefings we've experienced was marked. Gone were the big messages about the Windows 8 Start screen and Windows 8-style apps. The atmosphere was more introspective - has the Start screen been over-emphasised?

• 50 Windows 8 tips, tricks and secrets

"I've changed my pitch - I hate saying it's my pitch - from starting with the Start screen to starting with the Windows desktop when I talk to people about Windows 8," considered Moulster. "When you show them the desktop it looks like Windows 7 and in fact it is pretty much like Windows 7 except that it's faster, it's more secure, uses less power, starts up quicker and has interface tweaks across the board.

"Essentially if you like Windows 7 you should like Windows 8 because it's much the same only improved. And then on top of that there's all the Windows 8 stuff which you can use when you're ready to use it."

Has Microsoft placed too much emphasis on the Start screen?

Too much, too soon?

Moulster talked about how this "desktop first" approach may speak more to those migrating from Windows 7, with Microsoft possibly shifting the focus away from the new world of the Start screen at first.

"To me that resonates more with certain people who are coming from a Windows 7 background so I'm just wondering whether emphasising the Start screen to everyone might not be the right way to do it for us and others too.

"[The Start screen] is the new bit and it's the exciting bit so we want to talk about it but actually for a lot of people it's about doing their Windows 7 stuff and slowly get into 'OK I can do other things as well'. And suddenly it's 'well, I've got all these free apps I didn't know I had and I can play Angry Birds and gradually get into it'."

• Windows Blue could bring boot-to-desktop back

Moulster was also keen to find out what we thought about the new OS. When we brought up about the negative feedback from users we've received in comments on TechRadar, Moulster mused over whether there was a skew between early adopters and "people who are less techy". He also suggested that coming to Windows 8 without stigma does have positive results on touch-based devices.

"I bought my mother, who's 76, a Surface and - obviously while I helped her somewhat - she loves it and just gets on with it. She does her email, online banking, she does everything. What she doesn't use is the desktop. She doesn't really know it's there - she's got fairly simple needs.

"She had a laptop before and a netbook where the screen res was so low… It's easy to use, so there's that class of user that's not at all tech savvy and as long as they're starting from scratch with the Start screen, it's actually more easy to use."

Many see Surface as the de facto Windows 8 device, but of course it runs Windows RT

The app problem

Although there are some great apps in the Windows Store - and numbers are in excess of 50,000 - we made the point to Moulster that we'd been surprised at the lack of big-name apps materialising at the Windows 8 launch. Skype and Twitter launched later, while Facebook (which Microsoft has a stake in, let's not forget) still hasn't appeared.

"We of course still have the desktop and have all the apps there. I get asked 'is there an iTunes app' - well there kind of is, because iTunes works just as it always has done on the desktop. Use that, or Spotify or whatever.

"The other key thing is that Internet Explorer 10 enables you to pin sites to the Start screen, so you can use that to access many web apps. Because it's full screen, you kind of don't know it's not a [separate] app - the BBC iPlayer is a case in point, just pin the site to your Start screen.

"What I don't think we should be doing is starting [people] off saying the Windows 8 Start screen is where you should spend your entire life and forget about the desktop because most people don't want to do that. In some ways it's the other way around.

"Start with what they know, install all the applications that they know they like and that work, and gradually start saying 'yes, I can see how these apps can be useful to me'."

Moulster says pinning sites to the Start screen is the way to go

Windows 8.1 on the way

We ask about Windows Blue and whether it points the way towards eventually getting rid of the desktop. Moulster tells us: "To be honest I don't have an answer because I don't know. I'm loathe to speculate. It seems highly unlikely to me. I haven't seen anything either way. I'd be surprised, but that's my personal view."

"I think it's a continuation of us always building on what's there. Windows 8 is built on Windows 7 and starts from where Windows 7 stops, and I don't think there will be a change to that approach. We'd be crazy to throw anything away.

"But what form that takes we'll have to wait and see I suppose. I think we have said that we'll be releasing updates more frequently, but precisely what that means I don't know. There's the apps as well, we've released plenty of updates to our apps."

We make the point to Moulster that much of the problem with the reaction to Windows 8 is actually around expectations rather than actual issues with the OS. "You're correct," he says. "It's more of a perception than an actual issue. Yeah, sure, we want to have more apps in the store and I'm sure we will, but there are a lot of things you can do that people don't realise you can do and it's our job [to tell people].

"So a lot of it will be, the more people are using Windows 8 the more people will talk about it, so people will say 'I'm using this tool, I didn't know you can do that' - it will catch on, that peer thing. But it will take time.

"The comments you make aren't surprising to an extent, it's just that we need to work out how best to address it. I think the product does a lot, if not all, the things people want it to do. It's about us being clear about how to achieve that without spending one-on-one time with everybody! These [public] shows are good because people come and most of them don't have an axe to grind at all; they just want to know how to use it. Spend five minutes with them and they say it makes sense to them and they understand it.

Windows Blue is coming, featuring IE11

Helping people to choose a Windows 8 PC

Is there an issue with having too much choice with Windows 8 laptops andWindows 8 tablets? "I think we've got a job to do on the choice part as well. Choice is a good thing but then people get confused by it, so you've got to help them figure out what they're looking for and what they need. The line we've taken with it is that you can pick the ideal PC for you, which might not be the right PC for somebody else.

"We need to get people thinking that way - does it need to be thin and light, do I need a long battery life, does it need a big screen. When you figure those things out, you'll probably find there's a device that's right for them. We need to help them find that device.

"With Surface, because it's our device, some people think this is it! Actually, there could be a much better device that's a much better fit for what you want. We tend to forget that people don't know [what to look for] because we're so close to it. There's an education job for us to do."

"So when we talk about Surface being seen as the key Windows 8 device, is it about making sure partners' devices are on even keel? "I think it's a decision path - if that's not too bad a term to use - that includes our devices and all the rest too. It's crazy to suggest that Surface is the perfect device for everybody because clearly some people don't like it, they want a proper keyboard or whatever it is."

Does RT have a future?

Has Windows RT made things more complicated, with the lack of support for desktop apps? "Yeah, I think again it's about being clear about what people want. So if they've got Windows 7 programs they depend on, Photoshop for example, we need to be clear that they won't work on RT and it's not the right device for them. Simple as that.

"Although there is the case that there might be an equivalent [Windows 8] app for them and so the other advantages such as long battery life means it's a good choice. It is part of the decision-making process that we need to be clear about. I still maintain that having choice is a good thing, but it does complicate things somewhat.

"It's about getting people to use these devices and trying them out. It's a tough one, as it usually means going into a retail store. It's tough to get the value across on a poster. And it's tough to get the message across - 'this is Atom, this is ARM'. People don't think about that, they think about what they want to do, if they need something for email or for 3D gaming. I guess that's always been the case."

Does Windows RT have a long future?

Finally, we also asked Moulster if he knew of any plans for RT, as othermanufacturers seem to be pulling back from the OS. "We've specified support [duration, until November 2017 for Surface RT] … what the longer term plans are I'm not really privy to, but RT is a fully-fledged player. I can't really say any more than that."

Moulster finishes on a positive note. "We're encouraged by the solid initial sales of Windows 8, and as we announced recently there have been over 60 million licenses sold [market share is also on the rise]. This is an exciting time in Windows and there's a lot of energy around the work we're doing."

iPad 5 release date, news and rumors

The announcement of the iPad 4 during Apple's October 2012 event came as a surprise to many, but one expert quickly predicted that the company would release a thinner, lighter iPad 5 in early 2013.

According to Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst for KGI Securities, the fourth generation full-sized iPad (and the iPad mini, which was launched at the same event) might not be enough to fend off competitors. Kuo cited Microsoft'sSurface tablet as posing a particular risk to Apple''s dominance.

Shortly after the iPad 4 launch, Kuo wrote in a note to investors, reported by AppleInsider, that Apple may feel pressured to launch a 9.7-inch iPad 5 to cement its lead in the tablet business.

"Though the iPad mini is expected to be successful, we think launching the lighter, thinner 9.7-inch iPad as quickly as possible matters more for Apple strategically," Kuo wrote.

iPad 5 release date

Digitimes reported on 19 November 2012 that the iPad 5 release date would be "around the middle of 2013", while on 24 December 2012, an "inside source" talking to Japanese site Macotakara, wrongly pegged the new iPad release date as March 2013.

That incorrect March release date was repeated by Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets on 12 January 2013. White was citing supposed industry insiders at the CES expo in Las Vegas, while also writing in a note to investors that Apple is moving to a bi-annual iPad refresh schedule.

On 25 January, iLounge editor-in-chief Jeremy Horwitz, who claims to have seen the new iPad 5, wrote that the fifth-gen iPad would not go on sale until October 2013. Horwitz also said that the iPad mini 2 would be launched in the same month.

However, on 15 February, as reported by AppleInsider, investment bank Piper Jaffray repeated the notion of a spring 2013 launch for the new iPad. "The history of time between Apple product launch events suggests that the company will introduce something new in March or April," said analyst Gene Munster, adding: "Over the past two years, the spring event has been iPad updates."

Spring vs Autumn

So it seems that observers are divided on whether we'll see the new iPad in spring or autumn, with pundits dashing around and lining up like a game ofRunaround. On 22 February, analyst firm TrendForce opted for the autumn launch line, claiming that we'll see a completely overhauled iPad 5 in September 2013.

Just to throw an extra release date into the mix, accessory manufacturer MiniSuit reckons the new iPad will be released in June. Gizmorati also reckons the iPad 5 will be shown off in June - specifically on June 29, six years to the day from the launch of the original iPhone. Citing an "inside source from Apple", Gizmorati claimed on 19 March that an event, called 'Original Passion, New Ideas', will see the launch not just of the new iPad but also of the iPhone 5S. However, given that June 29 is a Saturday, we're filing this particular rumor in the 'Probably Total BS' file.

Want another possible release date for the new iPad? Apparently knowledgeable sources have revealed to iMore that the iPad 5 will be available in April.

So in summary, the iPad 5 will be released in either March (wrong!), April, June, September or October. Surely there are sources out there willing to bet on May and July?

The early release dates mentioned above could now be in question if you believe a Digitimes report of 7 March, which says that there's a shortage of touch sensors for the iPad mini (the same sensors that are expected to be used in the next iPad). Japanese firm Nishha - Apple's main supplier of the sensors - is reportedly boosting its output to meet demand but Digitime's sources reckon the iPad mini 2 and iPad 5 could still be fighting over this component when they go into production, causing one of them to be delayed.

However, there's a sign that a new iPad may be waiting in the wings. When retailers start to cut prices that's sometimes because they're clearing out stock to make way for a newer model, and as Cult of Mac notes, in the US that's just what Wal-Mart, Best Buy and MacMall all did on Wednesday 3 April, reducing prices of the iPad 3 and iPad mini prices by about 30%. So are the April release date rumours correct after all?

Back to rumour-magnet Digitimes. The Taiwanese site now reckons, as per a report of 9 April 2013, that iPad 5 production will not begin until the "July-August" period of this year, which will no doubt please those analysts who are predicting an autumn release.

iPad 5 features and specifications

Considering the current iPad is the same weight, thickness and price point as its predecessor, it's very possible Apple is looking to produce a slimmed-down version.

Apple did give the iPad 4 a new A6X processor system-on-a-chip, which it claims to be twice as fast as the last iPad.

It also gained the new lightning connector and better LTE support. But that's all the new features iPad fans got with the fourth-gen tablet.

The iPad 4 sports the new Lightning connector

Kuo expects Apple to pack "GF DITO" (or GF2) touchscreen technology into the speculative new iPad 5. GF2 is already used in the new iPad mini, which helps to make it 23 percent thinner and 53 percent lighter than its bigger brother.

Those screens may make the move to a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio if Los Angeles industry analyst Paul Mueller is correct. "I have talked to at least three people close to Apple who say that there are new iPad prototypes that have a 16:9 aspect ratio," Mueller told The Examiner in September 2012. That change would ideal for watching movies but as it would make the iPad taller and narrower, holding it in portrait mode would be a little awkward.

On 14 December 2012, Macworld cited a report in Digitimes that claims that one way Apple will reduce the weight of the new iPad will be by using one LED light bar instead of the two that are found in the current iPad (and that were first introduced in the iPad 3). Macworld points out that this would also mean that the iPad 5 would consume less power and could therefore run on a smaller, thinner battery.

Another way that the new iPad may slim down is by reducing the size of the LED backlight. In an 11 April 2013 email to CNET, Paul Semenza, analyst at NPD DisplaySearch, wrote: "It's likely that part of the thinner/lighter design will be reducing the size of the LED backlight, partly by making the display more efficient and partly by using more efficient LEDs."

iLounge's Jeremy Horwitz claimed in January 2013 that the iPad 5 has virtually no left or right bezels in portrait mode, with just enough space above and below the display for the home button, sensors and front camera. The iPad case designs that subsequently leaked in February and April suggest that this claim could be correct.

But who will be producing the display for the new iPad? Not Samsung,reckons GottaBe Mobile, claiming that Apple is "actively moving away from Samsung for the next generation of mobile products." According to a rumour the site picked up from etnews, when Apple sent out a request to parts manufacturers for estimates, Samsung was not a recipient of the request. The same GottaBe Mobile report claims that Samsung is falling out of favour as manufacturer of the A7 processor, too.

DigiTimes reckons the iPad screens will be supplied by LG and Sharp.

Brian White, who incorrectly pegged the iPad 5 launch as March 2013 and who reckons that there will now be a new iPad every six months, also wrote in his January 2013 note to investors that the iPad 5 would feature an improved A6X processor.

Patently Apple lent weight to the notion of Apple taking its processor manufacturing business away from its best buddy Samsung, citing a report published on 10 April 2013. According to the report: the "chasm between Samsung Electronics and Apple is expected to widen further as Apple has excluded its Korean rival from a project to develop A7 application processors due to be released in the first half of next year."

It's possible that the new iPad will feature a vibrating mode for message alerts and haptic feedback (within games, for example). This news comes courtesy of Patently Apple, which reported on March 21 that Apple has applied for a patent for "an audio codec with vibrator support". Click the image on the left to view full size.

iPad 5 case clues

It seems that case manufacturers believe that the iPad 5 will take its design cues from the iPad mini, being thinner than the current iPad, and with smaller side bezels, which fits with Horwitz's observations.

Accessory maker Minisuit supplied MacRumors with pictures of iPad 5 cases that it has created based on what it believes to be the correct iPad 5 dimensions. The cases are slightly smaller than the iPad 4 ones and feature a hole on the back for the supposedly relocated microphone.

And as we reported on 26 February 2013, another third party case manufacturer - this time Shenzhen Sinofly Electronic Company Limited - has also begun to produce iPad 5 cases with a form factor more in line with the iPad mini.

What may or may not be actual Apple iPad 5 cases appeared online on 10 April. If genuine, these cases also show that the iPad 5 will have thinner bezels, as well as retaining the home button and front-facing camera. And as the case is white, we can assume that the white edition of the iPad isn't going anywhere.

On 16 April 2013, supposed iPad 5 cases appeared again, this time at the Hong Kong Electronics Fair. As posted on engadget, these third-party cases, apparently based on leaked specs, also suggest an upcoming iPad that'll be slimmer than the iPad 4 as well as featuring thinner, iPad mini-like left and right side bezels when in portrait mode.

iPad 5 wireless charging?

A patent first filed by Apple in September 2011 that AppleInsider discovered on 14 March 2013 reveals that Apple is looking into equipping its iPad Smart Covers with induction coils so that you'll be able to charge your iPad simply by closing the cover.

The patent, called "Integrated inductive charging in protective cover," talks of "an inductive power transmitter arranged to wirelessly pass power to a corresponding inductive power receiver unit disposed within the tablet device."

There are two ways this technology could work. One is that the cover is charged from the mains and it transfers this power to your iPad. The other, as theorised by Mark Hattersley at MacWorld, is that the cover "takes power wirelessly from a plugged-in iPad and stores it in an internal battery. It then sends it wirelessly in the other direction when you use the device."

iPad 5 accessories

The iPad 5 may launch with an official Apple gaming joypad if a report by Pocket Gamer is to be believed. According to the report, Apple held secret meetings with developers at GDC 2013, where it discussed the games that would support the controller at launch.

Should this device exist, it could also launch alongside the rumoured Apple iTV. As Pocket Gamer notes: "Given the opportunities a dedicated controller would provide in the living room, we'd expect it to be part of a large announcement also revealing Apple's wide TV strategy, including a direct assault on the console businesses of Sony and Microsoft."

iPad 5 mockups

Federico Ciccarese of CiccareseDesign has produced some renders for MacRumors showing how the new iPad might look, with its smaller bezel allowing a shrunken case with the same screen size as the current iPad.

The mockups were based on leaked images of a supposed iPad 5 shell which were posted to 9to5Mac on 28 January 2013.

Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 details leaked and it doesn't look bad

It's not just high-end handsets being churned out over in Korea at the moment, with a new benchmark result apparently revealing a more budget-friendly phone in works over at Samsung in the form of the Galaxy Ace 3.

Looking to replace the Galaxy Ace 2 and the still wildly-popular-with-networks original Galaxy Ace, the Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 has reportedly turned up on GL Benchmarkswith a handful of specs leaked in the process.

According to the results of the test, the Galaxy Ace 3 - or GT-S7272 if you prefer - will arrive packing a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 800 x 480 display and running Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.

Smoking Aces

It's good to see the latest version on Android on a cheaper handset, as cut-price phones usually have to make do with older versions of Google's OS.

Round the back you'll apparently find a 5MP camera with 720p video recording capabilities, while under the hood you should be greeted with contactless NFC technology.

Samsung hasn't said anything about its future products, so we're just going on hearsay for the moment and we know that benchmark results can be forged - although it's probably pretty safe to say a Galaxy Ace 3 will arrive at some point.