Spotify on Friday sent out press invites for a special announcement in New York City on April 18th. It’s not entirely clear what the event might cover, although recent reports have indicated the music streaming service may allow app and playlist recommendations from various brands in an effort to make the platform more attractive to advertisers. The company previously held a press event in November to announce its embedded applications platform.

Apple has just alerted the media that it plans to discuss what the company will do with its $100 billion in cash tomorrow at 9:00 AM ET. The most logical assumption is Apple will issue a dividend to shareholders. Or buy part of Samsung or something crazy. Press release follows.

WHAT: Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, and Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO, will host a conference call to announce the outcome of the Company’s discussions concerning its cash balance. Apple® will not be providing an update on the current quarter nor will any topics be discussed other than cash.

WHERE: Via conference call. The dial-in number for press is (877) 616-0063 (toll-free) or (719) 219-0041. Please enter confirmation code 592016.WHEN: Monday, March 19, 2012 at 6:00 a.m. PDT/9:00 a.m. EDT

REBROADCAST: The conference call will be available as a continuous rebroadcast beginning Monday, March 19 at 9:00 a.m. PDT/12:00 p.m. EDT through Monday, April 2 at 9:00 a.m. PDT/12:00 p.m. EDT. The dial-in number for the rebroadcast is (888) 203-1112 (toll-free) or (719) 457-0820. Please enter confirmation code 6274937.

WEBCAST: Apple will provide live audio streaming of its conference call using Apple’s industry-leading QuickTime® multimedia software. The live webcast will begin at 6:00 a.m. PDT on March 19, 2012 at www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/call31912 and will also be available for replay for approximately two weeks thereafter. The webcast is available on any iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch® or any Mac® or PC running QuickTime 6 or later. If you do not have QuickTime installed on your Windows PC, it is available at www.apple.com/quicktime.

This recording is the property of Apple and protected by U.S. copyright law and international treaties. Any reproduction or distribution is strictly prohibited without prior written approval from Apple. Please contact Apple Public Relations or Investor Relations with any questions.Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.

During its press conference in San Francisco on Wednesday, Apple announced that it will continue selling the iPad 2 following the launch of its third-generation iPad tablet. The previous-generation model will see its price drop to $399 for the Wi-Fi-only version and $529 for the 3G model, and it will only be available with 16GB of memory.

Apple on Wednesday announced the release of iOS 5.1 during a press conference in San Francisco, California. Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch combined to make up 76% of the company’s revenue in the fourth quarter last year. Apple sold a combined total of 315 million iOS devices in 2011, and 62 million in the fourth quarter alone. New features in iOS 5.1 include the addition of Japanese language support to Siri and more. iCloud has also been updated to support movies, which can be purchased once and then re-downloaded from iCloud in full-HD 1080p resolution. iOS 5.1 will become available for download on Wednesday in the U.S. and in the coming weeks in Japan.

LightSquared on Tuesday announced that Sanjiv Ahuja has resigned from his role as chief executive officer. Chief network officer Doug Smith and and CFO Marc Montagner will serve as interim co-CEOs, and Ahuja will continue to serve as chairman of the board. Additionally, LightSquared’s billionaire founder Philip Falcone has been appointed to the company’s board of directors and has reiterated LightSquared’s commitment to low-priced 4G alternatives. “We are, furthermore, committed to working with the appropriate entities to find a solution to the recent regulatory issues,” Falcone said. “We, of course, agree that it is critical to ensure that national security, aviation and the GPS communities are protected. I am confident that working together, we can solve this problem and bring the American consumer the lower priced 4G wireless alternative they need and deserve.” Read on for LightSquared’s press release.

LightSquared Undertakes Search for New CEO; Affirms Intent to Build Wireless Network

Sanjiv Ahuja Steps Down As CEO; Chief Network Officer Doug Smith and Chief Financial Officer Marc Montagner to Serve as Interim Co-Chief Operating Officers; Philip Falcone Appointed to Board

RESTON, Va., Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — LightSquared today announced that Sanjiv Ahuja has resigned his position as chief executive officer. He will continue to serve as chairman of the board. Doug Smith, currently chief network officer, and Marc Montagner, currently chief financial officer, will be named as interim co-chief operating officers, while the company completes the search for the new CEO. In addition, Philip A. Falcone, CEO and CIO of Harbinger Capital Partners, has been appointed to the company’s board of directors. The CEO search is expected to be completed in the near future.

“Sanjiv has shown great leadership in bringing the LightSquared vision to this point, including leveraging his experience in the telecom industry to sign dozens of critical partnerships across the country,” said Mr. Falcone. “As the company takes the next step forward, we continue to be excited about the prospects and look forward to working with new leadership to accomplish our goal of building and operating an innovative, competitive wireless network.”

“LightSquared’s objective, through its wholesale business model, is to provide increased competition and lower prices in the telecommunications industry, and to bring broadband cellular phone service to rural areas that currently don’t have such service and that has not and will not change. That has been our vision from day one,” said Mr. Falcone. “The absence of affordable and reliable wireless service options is frustrating for consumers, particularly in these challenging economic times.”

“We are, furthermore, committed to working with the appropriate entities to find a solution to the recent regulatory issues. We, of course, agree that it is critical to ensure that national security, aviation and the GPS communities are protected. I am confident that working together, we can solve this problem and bring the American consumer the lower priced 4G wireless alternative they need and deserve,” Mr. Falcone added.

Mr. Falcone noted that the company is also taking an aggressive approach to its finances to ensure that it has adequate financial runway while it works through these issues.

“During my tenure at LightSquared, we all worked tirelessly to create the nation’s first open wireless broadband network and provide consumers with a new wireless broadband experience,” Mr. Ahuja said. “That work continues and I wish the company and its fine management team well as they work to achieve this important goal.”

As chief network officer, Mr. Smith is responsible for LightSquared’s network design, deployment and operations, and is the lead architect behind developing the technical characteristics necessary to bring to market a competitive high-speed wireless network. Previously, he held a number of leadership positions at Clearwire and Sprint Nextel, managing technical, engineering and network operations.

As chief financial officer, Mr. Montagner is responsible for the company’s daily financial operations and oversees investor and bondholder relations. He has nearly 25 years of experience in financial and corporate development for the wireless communications sector, including working for such companies as France Telecom, Morgan Stanley, Sprint Nextel and Banc of America Securities, the investment banking arm of Bank of America.

“Doug and Marc have been recognized leaders in the industry and bring an exceptional combination of experience, intellect and character to the management team,” Mr. Falcone said. “They also know our opportunities and challenges as well as anyone, and are uniquely suited to lead the company forward. I look forward to working closely with them to bring affordable, reliable and high-speed wireless connectivity to all Americans.”

Apple plans to unveil its next-generation iPad 3 with a quad-core processor and 4G LTE connectivity at a press conference in New York City next week, CNBC reports. The news organization did not offer any additional information in its brief report, which was posted on its Twitter account on Tuesday morning. Earlier reports suggested Apple would announce the new tablet at a press conference in San Francisco, in line with the company’s prior two iPad unveilings. The iPad 3 is expected to feature a quad-core Apple A6 processor, embedded 4G LTE connectivity and a high-resolution  2,048 x 1,536-pixel display.

UPDATE: Well-connected Apple watcher Jim Dalrymple of Loop Insight claims that CNBC is incorrect about the location of Apple’s press conference, which will not be held in New York.

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Apple plans to unveil its third-generation iPad 3 tablet on March 7th according to a new report. Apple watcher iMore cites unnamed sources in claiming that the Cupertino-based tech giant’s next iPad will come equipped with a 2,048 x 1,536 Retina display and a quad-core A6 processor. The site also says Apple’s new tablet could come with embedded 4G LTE connectivity. The reported specs mirror countless earlier reports, however this latest claim comes alongside a date for Apple’s announcement: March 7th. The timing coincides with earlier reports claiming that Apple plans to unveil the iPad 3 in early March and iMore has a solid track record, so media invitations for Apple’s iPad press conference should be distributed soon.

UPDATE: Jim Dalrymple of The Loop has chimed in and confirmed that this is the date.

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All Things D is reporting that Apple is going to hold its annual iPad introduction event during the first week of March. Going one step further, the blog reiterates what the rumor mill (and BGR) has been reporting — faster processor, Retina Display, same basic size and shape, with possibly a dash and sprinkle of 4G LTE. The iPad 3 is expected to be available by the second or third week in March, and iOS 5.1 may be released even sooner.

Apple is planning to unveil its next-generation iPad 3 at a media event in early March and it will launch the new tablet later that month, Japanese blog Macotakara reported on Thursday. Prior to that press conference, however, Apple is said to be planning a separate “unusual” media event in early February. The subject of Apple’s supposed February event is unknown, however Macotakara states that it will not be product-focused. The iPad 3 is widely expected to feature a slightly thicker case than its predecessor to accommodate an upgraded high-definition display and a larger battery pack that will reportedly double the battery life of the iPad 2. BGR published evidence on Wednesday that Apple’s next-generation iPad will also feature a quad-core A6 processor and embedded 4G LTE connectivity.

UPDATE: Loop Insight has refuted claims that Apple will hold a media event later this month. The claim that Apple might unveil its iPad 3 at an event in early March was not addressed in The Loop’s report.

[Via MacRumors]

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Samsung reportedly confirmed on Wednesday that it will not be unveiling the Galaxy S III during the Mobile World Congress trade show next month. The news is partially in line with earlier rumors. Instead, TechRadar reports that the firm has plans to announce the highly anticipated smartphone at a separate press conference later in the first half of 2012. “Samsung is looking forward to introducing and demonstrating exciting new mobile products at Mobile World Congress 2012,” a Samsung spokesperson reportedly said. “The successor to the Galaxy S2 smartphone will be unveiled at a separate Samsung-hosted event in the first half of the year, closer to commercial availability of the product. Samsung stays committed to providing the best possible mobile experiences for customers around the world.” BGR exclusively reported last month that Samsung has plans to unveil a new high-end tablet with a high-definition display at Mobile World Congress, and this device is expected to be the highlight of the company’s announcements in Barcelona, Spain next month.

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Facebook announced on Tuesday that the company’s Timeline feature will be forced on users “over the next few weeks.” Facebook introduced the Timeline feature last year, which transforms a profile page into a timeline of a user’s life, highlighting photos, posts and life events that help tell the user’s story. Once activated, people will have seven days to preview the Timeline content before it goes live on the account. Last week, Facebook added a feature that enabled apps to populate timelines with new information, such as a virtual passport to share a user’s favorite locations.

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Apple is planning to unveil a new textbook initiative on Thursday that has been codenamed ‘Bliss’ that will likely bolster the use of iPads for educational purposes inside classrooms. AppleInsider has learned that the initiative was first inspired by Al Gore’s book “Our Choice,” which was published as an interactive iOS eBook and which also discusses the current global “climate crisis.” According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple’s vice president of development for iWork Roger Rosner has been the lead on the project. We’ll certainly know more details on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Eastern when Apple makes its announcement during a press conference in New York City.

Read [AppleInsider] Read [The Wall Street Journal]

Apple reportedly has plans to launch two new iPad models next year according to a recent report. Set to be unveiled at a press conference in January, the two new iPads will join Apple’s iPad 2 to create an iPhone like tablet lineup. The iPad 2 will remain available at an entry-level price point, DigiTimes claimed citing unnamed industry sources, while new mid-range and high-end iPad models will launch early in 2012. Both new iPads will feature dual-LED backlit 9.7-inch displays with a resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels. It is unclear what features might distinguish the new mid-range iPad from the high-end model. The report also claims that Apple’s rumored 7.85-inch iPad will not be among the models to launch early next year. Wedge Partners analyst Brian Blair recently said in a note to investors that Apple would continue to sell the iPad 2 at a lower price point following the launch of its next-generation tablet model.

UPDATE: Loop Insight’s Jim Dalrymple noted that according to his sources, Apple has no plans to unveil an iPad 3 at the iWorld expo in January as noted in DigiTimes’s report.

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Verizon Wireless on Wednesday finally announced the upcoming launch of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. The world’s first Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich phone with 4G LTE support will become available beginning tomorrow for $299.99 with a new two-year service agreement. BGR reviewed the international version of the Galaxy Nexus last month and called it the best Android device in the world, offering a more cohesive user experience than previous Android builds as well as solid hardware and an amazing screen. The smartphone features a 4.65-inch 720p HD Super AMOLED display, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 32GB of storage, 1GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video recording support and an 1,850 mAh battery. Verizon’s version of the handset ads CDMA and 4G LTE connectivity along with a slightly thicker case, though subscribers will certainly be happy to handle a thicker version of the phone in exchange for blazing fast 4G LTE data speeds. Verizon’s full press release follows below, and check out all of the official photos in the gallery.

GALAXY^™ NEXUS^™ BY SAMSUNG NOW AVAILABLE ON THE VERIZON WIRELESS 4G LTE NETWORK

First Smartphone to Combine Android^™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and the Power of America’s Fastest, Most Reliable 4G Network

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless, Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) and Google^™ announced Galaxy^™ Nexus^™ is available starting today in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.

Customers can browse the Web, stream music and more at blazing speeds using the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network. Galaxy Nexus customers can enjoy access to the 4G LTE network in 190 markets covering over 200 million people across the United States, and fly through the Web with fast download speeds of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps within the 4G LTE Mobile Broadband coverage area.

Galaxy Nexus runs Android^™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, which brings an entirely new look and feel to Android. Galaxy Nexus offers customers a redesigned user experience with improved multi-tasking, notifications, Near Field Communications (NFC) sharing with Android Beam^™ and a full Web-browsing experience. The lock screen, home screen, phone app and everything in between have been rethought and redesigned to make Android simple, beautiful and useful. Galaxy Nexus also features an ultra-thin 9.47mm design with a 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED^™ Contour Display to watch movies, view pictures and play games that come to life in 720p (1280×720) resolution.

Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) features:

• Redesigned user interface – software navigation buttons, a first for Android smartphones, and a dedicated recent apps button to make multi-tasking easy
• Face Unlock – use state-of-the-art facial recognition to unlock Galaxy Nexus
• Android Beam^™ – quickly share Web pages, apps, contacts and YouTube^™ videos with friends by simply tapping two compatible phones together
• Redesigned Camera – introduces panorama mode, 1080p video capture, zero-shutter lag for instant photo capturing, and effects such as silly faces and background replacement
• People Application – browse friends, family and coworkers, see their photos in high-resolution and check their latest status updates from Google+ and other social networks
• Cloud Services – keep email, contacts, photos, music, browser bookmarks and other data synced to the cloud, available across multiple devices so customers never lose important data
• Google Music – upload up to 20,000 songs to the cloud, discover and buy new music from Android Market^™, and stream it instantly on Galaxy Nexus and from the Web for free
• Google+ – Create a Google+ account right from the phone and check status updates, manage circles, quickly share updates and photos, video chat with up to ten friends with Mobile Hangouts, and chat with groups of friends with Google+ Messenger
• Support for Google Mobile^™ Services – Gmail^™, Google Maps^™ with 3D maps and free turn-by-turn navigation, Google Earth^™, Movie Studio, YouTube, syncing with Google Calendar^™, a redesigned Google+ app and access to more than 300,000 apps, millions of eBooks, thousands of movies to rent, and millions of songs available to download from Android Market

Additional features:

• Dual-core 1.2 GHz application processor and HTML5 Web browser – optimized dual-core processing with Android 4.0 combined with lightning fast 4G LTE connectivity for fast downloading of graphics, applications processing and Web browsing
• Mobile Hotspot capability – share 4G LTE or 3G connection with up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices
• 5-megapixel rear-facing camera with zero-shutter lag for instant photo capturing, autofocus and LED flash with full 1080p recording
• Front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video chat
• Textured soft-touch back cover – enhances the ergonomic feel and makes the phone slip-resistant
• Bluetooth^® 3.0 technology – support for headset, hands-free, stereo, phonebook access, human interface device (HID) and object push for vCard and vCalendar
• 1 GB RAM and 32 GB on-board memory (actual formatted capacity will be less)
• Pricing and data packages:
• Galaxy Nexus is available now in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.
• Customers that purchase a Galaxy Nexus by Samsung will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data.

Customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/galaxynexus for more information on the Galaxy Nexus. For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

 

HTC has not found tremendous success thus far with its first two tablet offerings. Despite a carrier deal with Sprint, the Sense UI, a unique note-taking feature called Scribe and a bunch of scantily-clad women toting the tablet at a few events, our sources suggest HTC Flyer sales have not been stellar. The company’s second tablet offering, the Jetstream, was priced out of contention here in the U.S., running $700 with a two-year data contract from AT&T. According to a recent report, HTC’s lucky number three will be unveiled in February at the annual Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona, Spain. Details are limited for the time being, but DigiTimes cites a report from Chinese-language Commercial Times in stating that a quad-core Tegra 3 tablet from HTC will be unveiled at the show and will launch some time before the end of the third quarter. Also likely due from the Taiwan-based vendor at MWC are the quad-core HTC Edge and the dual-core HTC Ville smartphones BGR exclusively detailed last week.

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