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iMac 2012 launch needs visibility

Posted: 02 Sep 2012 04:20 AM PDT

Apple has an extremely busy few months ahead with the product launch schedule to include much more than just the new iPhone, although that will of course be the biggest launch for Apple, but might not be the first new product to release. If some analysis by Ming-Chi Kuo, from KGI Securities, is correct we could see the 2012 iMac launch along with a smaller Retina MacBook Pro within the next couple of weeks and after the Sept 12 event.

We?ve explained in the past that it?s unlikely the new iPhone would share the stage with any other hardware, and that a separate event might be needed for some of the new products. The estimated schedule can be seen in the image below, which shows a busy September that includes the iPhone 5, iPod touch 5G, a 2012 iMac with a 21.5-inch display, and 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro. The new products don?t stop there with October being just as busy.

In October it is predicted we?ll see another new iMac for 2012 that has a 27-inch screen, and a new iPad mini, iPod nano, and an enhanced new iPad will join products launching this month. Take a look at the full product schedule below, which also shows a timeline for when these products should launch.

Too good to be true ? considering the 2012 iMac is already running late it will almost certainly get a refresh within a matter of days, especially considering these iMacs should have left factories already, but we find it hard to believe Apple would launch so many products packed so closely together.

It doesn?t make business sense to crowd too many product launches around the same time, and even if we believe these predictions then why would Apple decide to launch both an enhanced new iPad and iPad mini just a few months after the iPad 3? Apple doesn?t normally do this within 12 months of launching a product, and it is sure to upset a few Apple fans that bought the iPad 3. With that said, the insider sources talking about an iPad mini seem pretty solid, but looking at the amount of rumored product launches it seems too good to be true and looks like all the rumored products are going to launch (other than an Apple HDTV).

You can read a quote below from Ming-Chi Kuo?s report that touches on their survey, and why a gap of around 2 weeks between some product launches is needed. The 2012 iMac is nowhere as big as the iPhone 5, and considering the refreshed iMac might launch very close to the new iPhone it is hoped some visibility is given by a gap.

How much money is there to go around? It is also worth noting that some people are already lining up to buy the 2012 iMac and are just waiting for a release date, so with this in-mind it could launch silently on the Apple Store and gain a large number of sales. The problem is that some people have limited money, and are making the choice of a new iPhone or upgrading their iMac, and if this is the case launching products closely together causes problems for some people.

Do you think Apple will risk launching so many products within 2 months? It couldn?t be a better time to do it considering the holiday shopping season is about to start, and some of these new Apple products would make a perfect Christmas gift. Now we wonder how many 2012 iMac?s will be bought as gifts?

The recent stock shortages of the 27-inch iMac and preparation seen by Apple and users shows everything is in place, so both Apple and the consumer are ready for a new iMac. Will you be upgrading within the next couple of weeks?

More About: apple, imac

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iPhone 5 event invites by Sept 5

Posted: 02 Sep 2012 03:07 AM PDT

We will soon know if the upcoming iPhone 5 event is to make the rumored date of September 12, which would be due to invites being sent out roughly as they did for last years new iPhone event. If Apple use the same 7 days notice for the 2012 Apple iPhone 5 event, then we can expect the press invites to go out no later than Sept 5, which is this Wednesday coming.

The iPhone 5 release date following the reveal ? last year we saw a launch of the 5th generation iPhone within 2 weeks of the event, so considering the 2012 Apple keynote is expected on Sept 12 with Verizon and AT&T blocking vacations from Sept 21 for 9 days, everything falls in-line with the arrangements made last year. It is our opinion that the new iPhone event invites will be sent out at some point on Sept 4, or the day after at the latest.

There will be a lot to learn from the invites and this could hint at other products joining the iPhone 5 on stage, although we doubt that Apple would do that considering the high profile an iPhone has, but you?re likely to see more details on iOS 6 and how it aids the next iPhone. You can see an image below that shows the 2011 iPhone invite, and the icons represented the date, time, and other information.

It is worth pointing out that the weekend before the above prediction, for invites being sent out, is Labor Day weekend in the United States and would mean most people will return to work on the Tuesday. This is a great time for Apple to send event invites to the press, which will quickly reach technology blogs and mainstream media, so that Apple receives wide coverage roughly when people return to work. The iPad 3 event at the start of this year saw invites sent out 8 days before, so again Tuesday/Wednesday is an almost certainty.

Will you be watching a live blog of the iPhone 5 event, and do you think Apple should have a live video stream of their keynote? Remember to keep connected to PR on our social channels, and you will be one of the first to know when the invites are sent out and what they look like this year.

Now that we are moments away from the iPhone 5 specs being officially revealed you might want to keep up with the latest news on this page, although getting an order in right after launch is a good idea considering there could be production problems that lead to low stock at first.

What do you expect to see on the new iPhone invites for this year? The smaller dock connector has to make an appearance, although there could be hints dropped towards iPhone 5 and NFC if that feature is included this year. Hit the comments with your predictions.

More About: apple, apple iphone

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Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeros visualized

Posted: 01 Sep 2012 07:32 PM PDT

It is a great day for fans of Metal Gear Solid and the new Ground Zeros game, which is thanks to just under 11 minutes of gameplay going live within the last few hours, and this footage of Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeros can be seen below this article. It is fantastic to see the original MGS Snake in the video and after watching this gameplay we can?t wait to get hands-on.

The original demo of Ground Zeros took place at PAX 2012, and this demonstration had been around 15 minutes although the cut down version is still impressive. During the gameplay you get to see what the Fox Engine can do, and as far as we can see it looks pretty good.

It is worth noting that the start of the Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeros video is just a cutscene, which does last a while, so keep watching and you'll see some gameplay towards the end. This game will lead to another, commonly known as Metal Gear Solid 5, so you can count this version as a stepping-stone to that game. Personally we'd prefer to only buy MGS games with Snake in, although it would be good to hear your thoughts on his inclusion, so hit the comments below.

Kojima has explained in the past that the Fox Engine will move up to the next-generation of games console, PS4 and Xbox 720, with ease thanks to its ability to up scale. For now you?ll be using the new game engine on the current generation, and at the time of writing the release date is unknown.

Are you looking forward to getting hands-on with Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeros? We'd love to hear your thoughts on both the trailer and what you make of the Fox Engine so far? It is worth pointing out that the gameplay seen in the video below is PC footage, but Kojima did state at PAX that the quality is similar to the PS3 version.

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Entering FIFA 13 launch month

Posted: 01 Sep 2012 06:51 PM PDT

We?ve been looking forward to FIFA 13 for a number of months, especially considering we play the existing game numerous times every week, and while no two games are the same it seems like the new FIFA 13 will take things to another level. The unpredictability should increase now that balls won?t land directly at your feet after traveling through the air, and other innovations include smarter players that are more likely to go after the ball rather than watch it pass by as we spoke about in a post earlier this week.

Now that we entered the launch month for FIFA 13 we?ve seen EA stepping up their promotional campaign, which recently included a Join The Club video that you can see in our earlier article or in the first video below (on this page). The TV Ad is pretty funny so if you haven?t seen it, then we recommended you have a watch, although the continued hype has disappointed some FIFA fans who just want to get playing the latest version. The good news is that date has been set for sometime and will see FIFA Soccer 13 launch on September 25 in the US, which will be followed with a launch just 3 days later in the UK/Europe.

Part of the promotion for FIFA 13 includes partnering with different brands, and Sky Sports has teamed up with EA to offer a free copy of FIFA 13 for PS3, which to enter you only need to watch the TV Ad and work out how many professional managers and players there are in the video. You can read more details about this promotion directly on their article, although it?s worth noting you have to the end of this month to enter.

The new skills and controls found within FIFA 13 bring better controlling of the ball, which creates a more fluid experience when dribbling. There are numerous improvements to FIFA 13 that aim to make the game more lifelike, and these include tactical free kicks and First Touch Control. You can read more on these features and others in an article found here, although we?ve also embedded two more videos below that showcase gameplay from a recent event and skill moves from actual game footage.

Will you be picking up a copy of FIFA 13 on day one, or are you giving it a miss this year? We would also love to hear your thoughts on the hype surrounding the game, and do you think this helps the game meet expectations or does it raise them too high?

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GTA V feels alive due to silence

Posted: 01 Sep 2012 02:53 PM PDT

It is pretty hard for some people to understand how less is more, although this continues to be proven correct with the Grand Theft Auto 5 marketing and with certain products in the smartphone industry. It seems some companies have really nailed how to create interest in what they are about to launch, and when it comes to Rockstar and GTA V, we continue to see that the more silence there is the more the game feels alive.

We?ve heard from the co-founder of Rockstar in the past on this very subject and it relates to GTA V, which saw Dan Houser explain that their games ?feel? much more ?alive? the less people know about them during development. When it comes to continually delivering information to the gamer during this stage, it is Houser?s view that this can undermine the excitement when gamers finally get hands-on.

If you love to keep up with most news surrounding GTA V and those behind the game, then you might remember a few quotes that point to how Rockstar like to build hype surrounding GTA V, and while their silence can be frustrating it is a proven system that has given Rockstar a good name among gamers. They normally deliver the goods when the release date finally arrives, and fans know this so give them room to do what they do best while waiting patiently for a launch.

Below you can see a few words from Houser during a Variety interview, which took place some time a ago. Also below the first quote you can see another, which is taken from one of Rockstar?s recent Q&A?s. Both of these quotes speak a thousand words when it comes to how GTA 5 is promoted, and also why it is a good thing for the gamer.

Do you agree that some game developers give too much information away before launch and this can sometimes ruin a game, or do you think Rockstar need to give us a lot more details about GTA 5? GTA IV launched on the Xbox 360 and PS3 just a couple of years after these consoles released, but considering it has been over 4 years since that game launched we can expect something really special for GTA 5. Rockstar know the systems a lot better and the next Grand Theft Auto will include much better graphics, which you can see in the screenshot below that certainly improves massively on the console GTA IV graphics, although the consensus is these graphics are for this generation of console and not next.

We can expect GTA 5 trailer 2 at some point this year, which would be the perfect follow-up to all these screenshots we?ve seen recently, and while Rockstar promised something more in the next couple of weeks you shouldn?t expect too many details. This is thanks to Rockstar promoting GTA 5 in a way that leaves a lot of surprises for when you finally get hands-on. Do you prefer the finer details left in secret until release?

Do you think GTA 5 will set a new sales record? It will be interesting to see if GTA 5 breaks the record for highest grossing game within 24 hours, which happened when the last game launched.

More About: gta v, rockstar

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iPhone 5 bizarrely meets Galaxy Note 2

Posted: 01 Sep 2012 01:39 PM PDT

When Apple is about to launch its new iPhone 5 and around the same time we?re seeing Samsung launch their Galaxy Note 2, then the obvious had to happen and that is a number of websites comparing these two devices. This is very bizarre considering the different types of users they are going for, and you?d think someone wanting to make lots of phone calls would never want to hold a Galaxy Note 2 to their ear for long, although the same task would be an easy job for the iPhone 5 that?s expected to grow in length only.

When it comes to browsing the web, reading emails, playing games, and other similar tasks the bigger 5.5-inch screen on the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 would be perfect and while the iPhone 5 makes these tasks easy as well, its smaller display might not be for everyone. You?re sure to see the type of user that performs these tasks all day being more suited to the bigger device, especially if making phone calls comes second to things that need a bigger screen.

Reactions to comparing smartphones with massive size differences ? The Samsung Galaxy S3 is much bigger than the iPhone, but the Galaxy Note 2 takes things to a whole new level. In the past we touched on how comparing the upcoming iPhone 5 or current 4S model to the Galaxy Note, and now Note 2, is like comparing chalk to cheese.

Interestingly we saw a number of our readers wanting Apple to launch a separate model of iPhone 5, which would feature a 5-inch display, and the reason for this is their love of iOS. Thanks to the iPod touch and iPad you?ll find millions of people enjoying iOS 5 that don?t own an iPhone, although some of these users would love to see Apple offer a screen more in-line with that of the Samsung Galaxy S3 or Note 2.

It?s becoming extremely obvious that smartphone users want a bigger display and if Apple fails to deliver something big enough with the 6th generation they might lose some fans to bigger Android devices. The longer iPhone 5 might not be enough considering it?s nowhere near the size that some users want, although it is also fair to say that Apple are very likely to continue its growth even without these users thanks to the majority of Apple fans being extremely loyal.

The Galaxy Note 2 specs are pretty much going to line up with what Apple offer on the iPhone 5, although we should see an increase in megapixels for the rear camera that would be more than Samsung?s latest phone, but Apple always state it?s about the quality of pixels rather than number. The microSD card is a welcomed feature for the Galaxy Note 2 that allows up to 64GB of storage, although Apple has never offered this option on any of their phones and it is unlikely to do so with the next generation as well. Again we could continue comparing specs between these devices, just as a number of blogs have done even though the iPhone 5 would be rumored specs for now, but the bottom line is the size of these two devices and how that would impact your daily smartphone usage.

Personally when it comes to the iPhone 5 vs. the Galaxy Note 2 it is all about phone calls to us, and if you make a lot of them and need to hold your device next to your ear, then you?ll find the Galaxy Note 2 way too big, and if you want a true sized phone that?s perfect for making long phone calls then it has to be Apple as the number one choice.

Will you wait for the next iPhone before making a choice between these two devices, or do you already expect the iPhone 5 to be way too small for you? The real choice will be a personal one and while a number of our readers might prefer the bigger Galaxy Note 2, it is worth pointing out that we doubt any smartphone will come close to the sales expected for the next iPhone. Do you think Apple need to launch a phone with a screen bigger than 5-inches?

More About: apple, apple iphone, samsung, Samsung Galaxy Note 2

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Skyrim: Lack of PS3 Dawnguard is far reaching

Posted: 01 Sep 2012 07:34 AM PDT

The problems Bethesda are having with getting Skyrim?s Dawnguard on the PS3 are further reaching than some people might believe, and following a recent message from Bethesda?s staff we now know that the developers are not confident the first Skyrim DLC will ever arrive on the PlayStation 3 platform.

If you missed the latest update in regard to Dawnguard?s PS3 development, then you should see our earlier article that directly quotes what an admin and Community Lead said on the official forums. In a nutshell they?re not ?positive? this issue will be fixed, so while they did confirm it is being worked on, you shouldn?t expect any DLC to arrive on the PS3 unless the unnamed problem is solved.

Skyrim Dawnguard and possibly Hearthfire giving the PS3 a miss ? if this happens then it will be bad news for Sony, Microsoft, and Bethesda. Sony are directly affected thanks to Bethesda losing them customers and while this will only be a small number, we have heard about PS3 users jumping ship thanks to development problems on their platform. This is certainly giving Sony?s console a bad name thanks to what some developers say is a platform that?s ?hard to create games on?.

Microsoft are affected thanks to the money they spent getting an exclusive deal with Bethesda, which doesn?t mean much if the PS3 can?t have Dawnguard, Hearthfire, or any future DLC. If this ends up being the case then Microsoft might want to consider getting a refund. What is the point of paying for a timed exclusive if the Xbox 360?s biggest competitor, the PS3, ends up not receiving the downloadable content?

Bethesda will see some fallout ? If Bethesda fails to bring Skyrim?s Dawnguard to the PS3 then you can count on a backlash from PS3 owners, and as we noted in an earlier article, we're already seeing some gamers avoiding all Bethesda developed and published titles thanks to the PS3 drama.

More About: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

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