A new image suggesting Apple will soon launch an “iPhone 4S” was revealed on Thursday. 9to5Mac published a photo from Apple’s internal inventory that clearly shows the iPhone 4S moniker and suggests the 16GB iPhone 4S model number is “MD239.” Oddly, the new device is also codenamed “N94″ which was previously thought to have been reserved for the iPhone 5. 9to5Mac also said it also confirmed the phone in the system packs a dual-core A5 processor. On Wednesday we reported on a different internal inventory leak that suggested Apple will release two new 8GB iPhone models, one black and one white, in addition to a white iPod touch. While most reports have suggested Apple will reveal a thinner, lighter, aluminum unibody iPhone 5 alongside a cheaper iPhone 4S model, perhaps Apple will instead introduce an iPhone 4S and an 8GB iPhone 4.

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T-Mobile and HTC officially took the wraps off of the new myTouch 4G Slide on Tuesday, an Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) handset. As its name implies, the myTouch 4G Slide offers support for T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 4G network. We recently sat down with HTC for a preview of the phone before its launch, and the manufacturer said it spent a great deal of time tweaking the camera software so that the myTouch 4G Slide would offer the best photo performance of any phone HTC has launched. It has improved low-light performance, should have zero shutter lag, and more. We also appreciated the solid design of the myTouch 4G Slide during our demo, and liked that the keyboard was comfortable and didn’t add too much bulk to the phone when it was stored away. The phone runs HTC’s brand new Sense interface on top of a dual-core 1.2Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, so everything was fluid and fast, too. The myTouch 4G Slide is equipped with a 3.7-inch WVGA display, 8-megapixel camera with 1080p video recording, has support for SWYPE, has Netflix software pre-installed, and more. T-Mobile has not announced a price just yet, but the myTouch 4G Slide will be available in July in khaki and black. Read on for the full press release.

New T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide Delivers Most Advanced Camera of Any Smartphone

Latest myTouch device offers premium smartphone features paired with high-end digital camera capabilities for capturing and sharing life’s special moments

BELLEVUE, Wash. — June 28, 2011 — T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced the myTouch 4G Slide, the latest 4G smartphone to join T-Mobile’s exclusive line of myTouch products. The myTouch 4G Slide features the most advanced camera of any smartphone with zero shutter lag, backside illuminated sensor and additional premium digital camera features that offer consumers a viable replacement for their digital point-and-shoot cameras. The myTouch 4G Slide is expected to be available in July.

T-Mobile’s high-speed 4G network continues to expand and is now available in more than 190 markets, reaching more than 200 million people nationwide. With the T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide, T-Mobile customers in these areas can now take advantage of 4G speeds as they instantly capture and then share special moments at the speed of life.

“Knowing that the best camera is the one you’ve got with you, we set out to create a new best-in-class smartphone that allows our customers to leave their cameras at home,” said Andrew Sherrard, senior vice president, marketing, T-Mobile USA. “Our newest myTouch device takes capturing and sharing memories to a new level by combining high-quality smartphone hardware with features that customers would expect from a top-of-the-line digital camera.”

Ideal for capturing that perfect moment with photos that rival high-end dedicated digital cameras, the myTouch 4G Slide comes with an 8-megapixel camera with a dual LED flash and a host of advanced digital camera features, including the following:
·         Improved low-light Performance: with a backside illuminated sensor and a wide aperture lens (f/2.2)
·         Zero shutter lag: innovative software features allow for an instantaneous shot at that precise moment
·         SweepShot™: for capturing panoramic shots by sweeping across an entire scene in a single motion
·         ClearShot™ HDR: for capturing objects in bright settings so your photos are not affected by high-contrast lighting
·         BurstShot™: for capturing multiple photos in a quick burst so you don’t miss the perfect photo

Running on America’s Largest 4G Network™, the myTouch 4G Slide allows customers to instantly capture, and then share, quality photos and videos with a dedicated camera button and one-touch access to post to Facebook, Picasa or Flickr ― all at 4G speeds. A true camera and camcorder replacement, the myTouch 4G Slide features a full HD 1080p camcorder with audio recording and ability to edit videos directly from the device.

Manufactured by HTC exclusively for T-Mobile, the new myTouch 4G Slide features a beautiful 3.7-inch WVGA super LCD touch-screen display, with Swype, and a slide-out full-QWERTY keyboard, offering customers the freedom to choose how they want to input text. Powered by Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread) and HTC Sense 3.0, the myTouch 4G Slide provides an intuitive and powerful smartphone experience. With support for T-Mobile’s lightning-fast 4G network paired with a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon™ processor, myTouch 4G Slide customers will experience quick access to their favorite websites, videos, applications and much more.

The myTouch 4G Slide makes staying connected with loved ones more convenient than ever with T-Mobile Video Chat powered by Qik™ for face-to-face video chat on the go and Group Text™ by Bobsled™, which offers an innovative way to send and receive text messages with groups of friends. The new advanced Genius Button™ offers one shot voice commands, powered by Dragon Dictation from Nuance, that simplify the smartphone experience by enabling users to call, text, find a business or search the Web, all with the press of a button. With the myTouch 4G Slide’s Hands Free mode, customers can stay connected while on the road with the option for all notifications to be read out loud — simply tell the phone to text or dial to continue the conversation.

The myTouch 4G Slide offers preloaded entertainment applications, including T-Mobile TV, Netflix and YouTube for real-time mobile video streaming. The myTouch 4G Slide’s entertainment experience also can be shared with the whole family with T-Mobile KidZone, a built-in feature that allows parents to restrict what applications their kids can access on the device without worrying about them making a call or accessing inappropriate material.

Availability
Offered in two colors — black and khaki — the T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide is expected to be available exclusively from T-Mobile in July at T-Mobile retail stores, online at         http://www.t-mobile.com, and from select national retailers and dealers. Customers can visit http://mytouch.t-mobile.com/4g-slide for more information.
T-Mobile’s 4G network has expanded to seven additional markets: Barnstable, Mass.; Chico, Calif.; Lancaster, Penn.; Ogden, Utah; Redding, Calif.; Vineland, N.J., and Winchester, Va.

Apple just took the wraps off of its new 3TB Time Capsule automatic wireless backup hard drive. The company said that it will continue to offer a 2TB version of its Time Capsule alongside the new 3TB version, and it doesn’t look like there are any other differentiating specs. Apple appears to have also quietly updated its Airport Extreme product with support for up to 450Mbps file transfers over both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands, and the website has also been refreshed a bit. The 2TB Time Capsule drive is now available for $299 and the new 3TB model will set you back $499.

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It has been widely reported that Apple is planning to refresh its MacBook Air family later this month or early next month, and now there’s a new rumor that may make the wait even more worthwhile. According to MacRumors, the refreshed top-end MacBook Air model may also be available with a new anodized black aluminum finish — a color option that hasn’t been seen since Apple did away with the black MacBook. The image above is from Colorwave, which offers custom paint jobs for a variety of gadgets, but it’s a good idea of what such a product could look like barring the trackpad. Apple’s refresh is also expected to deliver support for the new Thunderbolt I/O port as well as Intel’s new Sandy Bridge processors. We’re definitely excited to see what the refresh entails, and the good news is we almost certainly won’t have a long wait to find out.

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Apple on Tuesday began selling unlocked iPhone 4 handsets in the U.S. a day earlier than expected. The smartphone is now available in 16GB for $649 or 32GB for $749, and both models come in black or white. Other manufacturers, most notably Nokia and Sony, have sold unlocked smartphones in the U.S. for quite some time. Neither company has seen much success with unlocked handsets thus far, though Apple’s approach is somewhat different. Apple’s primary sales channels in the U.S. are undoubtedly carriers, and the availability of unlocked smartphones simply addresses the needs of a small secondary market that is willing to pay for phones outright rather than spreading the cost of their devices over two years. As an added benefit, buyers of unlocked iPhones will be able to switch freely between GSM carriers, though some surgery may be involved with carriers that do not offer micro-SIM cards. With just a few months between the start of the summer and the expected launch of Apple’s fifth-generation iPhone, the availability of unlocked devices will allow also users to purchase iPhones now and then make a subsidized purchase in September, or whenever Apple finally does release the iPhone 5.

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With rumors of something new being cooked up at U.S. Apple Stores later this week, widespread speculation swept the Web suggesting Apple would finally take the wraps off its updated Sandy Bridge-powered MacBook Air notebooks. According to well-known and well-sourced iOS developer Chronic, that won’t be the case. Instead, for the first time, Apple plans to offer unlocked iPhone 4 models directly to consumers beginning Wednesday. Part numbers break down as follows: MC603 (16GB, Black) MC604 (16GB, White) MC605 (32GB, Black) MC606 (32GB, White). While pricing has not yet been confirmed, expect to pay a pretty penny for the new contract-free iPhones.

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Motorola has produced several iconic handsets during its storied existence. The DynaTAC, the Vader, the v60 and of course, the Motorola RAZR. What Nokia did for the candy bar-style mobile phone in the 1990′s, Motorola did for the flip phone in the early 21st century. Thin, sleek and stylish, the RAZR was initially brought to market in early 2005. The handset was light, easily fit in the pocket and packed a flat, backlit keypad that proved itself to be a formidable text messaging obstacle. The device was so popular, in fact, that just over 1-year ago we were still talking about the handset — the RAZR3 — before it was scrapped by Moto in favor of Android-based smartphones. During its four year reign of terror, where it retailed for nearly $200 on-contract, over 110 million RAZRs were sold by dozens of carriers the world over. We still have an AT&T V3 lying around BGR HQ for posterity sake, and although its utility is diminished, the handset’s mystique remains. How about it: how many of you cell phone junkies were proud RAZR owners?

BGR’s Throwback Thursday is a weekly series covering our (and your) favorite gadgets, games, and software of yesterday and yesteryear.

Look, there’s not too much to say here… you’re looking at an Apple iPhone 4 in white, instead of black. Yes, it’s an amazingly beautiful white handset — probably the cleanest we’ve ever seen — yes, it’s not available until tomorrow, and yes, people in Hong Kong are already lining up for it right now. But we’re just happy we can finally put all this madness behind us… after you check out our exclusive hands-on gallery, of course!

UPDATE: We have confirmed AT&T stores do not have 64GB models for sale later today, and we have confirmed that Verizon stores that are selling the iPad 2 do have 64GB models. Additionally, our local Apple store does not have Verizon iPad 2 units for sale. Very interesting…

Today at CES, LG announced the latest addition to its Android handset lineup, the Optiums Black. Measuring just 9.2mm thick, the Optimus Black packs a host of high-end features, including: Wi-Fi Direct, a 2 megapixel front-facing camera, a 700 nit NOVA display, and UI gestures. The set will ship with Android 2.2, but the press release promises “Android 2.3 Gingerbread upgrade capability” — it is also being billed as the “world’s thinnest smartphone.” More details are sure to come in the next few minutes, as LG is getting ready to kick off its CES keynote. In the meantime, hit the jump to check out the fairly vague press release. We’ll be updating this post with more details about the Black as they are made available.

LG introduces next generation smartphone design and display with LG Optimus Black

New LG Optimus Black Delivers Breakthrough NOVA Display Technology in the World’s Slimmest Smartphone Device

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5, 2011 – LG Electronics (LG) announced today it will unveil a new Android smartphone, LG Optimus Black, at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) from January 6th in Las Vegas. Providing users with a dramatically brighter 4-inch NOVA display in the world’s slimmest 9.2 mm mobile device, LG Optimus Black creates a one-of-a-kind user experience unlike anything before.

Available for the first time in the mobile market, LG Optimus Black’s NOVA display is designed to be the brightest, clearest and most readable among mobile screens with 700 nits  of brightness for optimal visibility. LG Optimus Black provides users with an easier and more natural experience when browsing the web, reading emails, or writing documents with higher levels of brightness and pure white tones that deliver true black and white colors for ideal handset viewing. NOVA technology featured on LG Optimus Black also enables users to maintain visibility whether indoors or outdoors under strong sunlight.

In addition to greater luminosity, the NOVA display on LG Optimus Black also radically reduces power consumption by 50 percent during general indoor use compared to a conventional LCD. Similarly, AMOLED consumes twice as much power as NOVA to display a full white screen, the most frequently used color scheme for web browsing. Combined with the 1500 mAh battery of the LG Optimus Black, users will have enough power for their daily needs, even at maximum brightness settings.

Users will never be out of style with the LG Optimus Black’s ultra slim 9.2 mm design. Making a strong visual statement, LG Optimus Black weighs only 109g and offers sleek lines and smooth edges that improve handheld grip. Tapering down to the world’s thinnest smartphone profile of 6.0 mm, LG Optimus Black’s subtle back arch helps to create the illusion of even greater slimness.  Unique to the LG Optimus Black, the flush and flawless finish of the front display is achieved by innovatively hiding the Invisible Receiver behind the edges of the phone.

“We are excited to introduce this stylish new Android smartphone and expect the LG Optimus Black to play a key role in the mobile market,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “LG Optimus Black reflects our core strengths of advanced technology, in both display and design, offering the world’s brightest screen and the world’s slimmest design in an attractive and smart package.”

The LG Optimus Black also offers a set of smarter features designed for easy and faster access to important apps and content. Optimus UI 2.0 lets users directly access messages, emails and missed calls from the locked screen with just one single finger tap. The Gesture UI offers more intuitive commands, including lifting, shaking and tapping, for taking calls, entering camera mode, or enjoying music. LG Optimus Black also introduces the world’s first Wi-Fi Direct™  for quick and high-quality data transfer between mobile devices and adopts the world’s first 2MP front-facing camera.

All LG Optimus Black features are available on the Android 2.2 Froyo platform with Android 2.3 Gingerbread upgrade capability. Utilizing the 2MP front-facing camera, LG Optimus Black allows users to utilize video telephony functions of higher quality after upgrading to Android’s Gingerbread.

The LG Optimus Black will be rolled out globally in the first half of 2011.

If you’re a Canadian BlackBerry enthusiast on Wind Mobile, we’ve got some good news for you. One of our ninjas from the north has just alerted us that the Bold 9780 has just populated Wind’s inventory system. Couple the above screen shot with rumors of extremely low BlackBerry 9700 stock levels — thanks in part to a buy-one get-one (BOGO) promotion — and we would venture to say this puppy will be hitting store shelves in the very near future. As a quick refresher, the Bold 9780 packs Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a 5 megapixel camera, 512MB of RAM, and runs RIM’s BlackBerry 6 operating system. Let us know if you’re planning on picking one up!

Thanks, anonymous!

Gaming giant Nintendo recently announced that during Black Friday week, U.S. consumers purchased a combined 1.5 million DS and Wii gaming systems. Holiday shoppers scooped up nearly 900,000 DS units and over 600,000 Wii consoles during the popular shopping debacle period. “U.S. shoppers bought about 9,000 Nintendo hardware systems nonstop for every hour of every day during the week of Black Friday,” said Nintendo of America’s president. Sales of Wii consoles were up slightly while sales of the DS portable gaming system fell slightly from the same period last year. Regardless, the numbers are still very impressive.

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If you’re looking to jump into the connected TV market, and aren’t quiet ready to go with Google TV, Roku is a great option. The company has just pinged us to let us know it is offering a sale on its widely popular Roku XD player starting tonight at 12:00PM PT. Roku will be offering its XD model player — which is capable of 1080p playback — at an additional 20% off. That brings the price of the already affordable box down to $64. The sale runs through Monday, November 29th. Happy shopping.

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You’ve read our Torch review and you’ve decided to take the plunge, huh? Well, you might be happy to know that AT&T is now finally offering the Blackberry Torch in two additional colors: Sunset Red and Pure White. The phones are live on AT&T’s website and can be picked up for $499 without a contract and $99 when you sign up to a two-year agreement. If a color other than black is your cup of tea, jump on over to AT&T’s website to get your order on. Just remember the white after Labor Day rule, ok?

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A fresh new Verizon Wireless rebate sheet emerged yesterday and brought with it some confusion. On the sheet, the upcoming Motorola DROID 2 Global had two associated SKUs. Since two separate versions of the unreleased DROID Pro were recently discovered — one with a camera and one without — it was assumed that these SKUs represented a standard DROID 2 Global and a second version sans-camera. But you know what they say about assumptions. So your pals here at BGR did some digging and we found our answer where all answers are ultimately found: Costco.

The screen shot seen above, delivered from an anonymous source, shows two versions of the Motorola DROID 2 Global within the Costco inventory system. The difference between them, as it turns out, is the color. Fans of white phones will be happy to learn that the DROID 2 Global will be released in both black and white when it finally does launch next month. Both versions will be $199.99 on contract. And while we still have no firm release date for these 1.2GHz beasts, hopefully the white DROID 2 Global doesn’t get delayed endlessly like the white iPhone 4.

Also of interest, the T-Mobile Comet — a mid-range Android phone rumored to be launching on November 3rd — will cost $149.99 when it finally sees the light of day.