Rumors

Samsung Galaxy S3 users may soon see their handset acting more like its bigger brother, the Galaxy Note 2.

That's because according to the SamMobile blog, the Galaxy S3 will soon receive Samsung's MultiView feature as part of a coming 4.1.2 update.

In addition to Multi-View, which lets the user run and view two applications at the same time, the update allegedly includes a customizable notification panel, a new gallery app, the continuous input keyboard, and Smart Rotation (where display adjusts to angle of view).

It's unclear how far along Samsung is at this stage, … Read more

A rumored Sony smartphone operating under the codename of "Yuga" could be the company's first handset to offer a 5-inch, 1080p display.

Details, images, and benchmarks posted by PocketDroid and a Swiss Android blog suggest that the device could give HTC and others a run for their money.

The hardware appears to match up fairly closely to the HTC J Butterfly. Also, after looking at a number of freshly unearthed photos of the Yuga, I see a unibody enclosure that likely means an internal battery.

While the Yuga maintains some of the design aesthetics of recent Xperia … Read more

iOS and Android users may finally see a mobile version of Microsoft Office designed for their devices.

Citing "several sources close to Microsoft's plans," the Verge said today that the new apps are set to pop up early next year.

Office Mobile, as it's dubbed, would let Microsoft account users view Word, PowerPoint, and Excel files on their mobile devices. But, the Verge added, editing the documents would require an Office 365 subscription. The apps would reportedly provide basic editing functionality but nothing close to that of their desktop counterparts.

Last month, a press release from … Read more

The tech blogosphere (CNET included) went into a mild panic today over a report in the Guardian saying that a native Google Maps app for iOS would "struggle for Apple approval."

"Sources at Google familiar with its mapping plans say they are 'not optimistic' that Apple will ever approve a dedicated Google Maps iOS app," says the story by Michael Grothaus, a former Apple consultant. "Though the app is reportedly in development and should be ready to ship by the end of the year, the sources say their plans are only proceeding in 'the unlikely … Read more

Google could be clearing the way for a new 32GB Nexus 7 tablet as it takes its current models offline.

The $199 8GB and the $249 16GB versions are both out of stock on the Google Play site. The page lists the status of both models as "coming soon." A text field prompts you to enter your e-mail address to be notified when they're available.

Google is reportedly prepping a 32GB version of the Nexus 7 that would replace the 16GB as the high-end model. The 32GB model would adopt the same $249 price tag as the … Read more

The iPhone 5 makes its next big overseas sales debut next Friday, November 2 as local media have begun to report the leaks. (You can find the MacRumors roundup here.)

We've contacted Apple for comment and will update this post when more information becomes available.

The Economic Times of India, citing unnamed sources, reported that next Friday's launch "is certain" with iPhone shipments arriving over the next two or three days.

Similarly, the Bangkok Post reported confirmation of the November 2 date from an unnamed "industry source."

In Greece, the iPhoneHellas blog (translated), reported … Read more

Apple's iBookstore is going live in 18 new countries, according to AppleInsider and other tech blog sites.

Citing information from an Australia-based iBooks label, AppleInsider said that the countries in line for iBookstore are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. Those 18 would bring the total number of iBookstore-supported countries to 50.

The expansion of iBookstore comes on the same day that Apple is expected to unveil the iPad Mini. The company also is reportedly aiming to push the education angle with its new tablet, … Read more

While most of the hype surrounding Apple's much-anticipated news event tomorrow is focusing on the possible iPad Mini, rumors are also spreading about a new regular-size iPad.

Leaked photos last week showed the alleged Lightning dock connector for an iPad 4, suggesting a new-generation iPad is being redesigned to accommodate a wide range of new components. Now, more photos have surfaced that show the iPad 4's possible new screen.

The new photos show what seems to be a larger front-facing camera cutout, according to Boy Genius Report, which published the images. This larger cutout could mean that Apple … Read more

iTunes users waiting for the new version could find their wait over sometime tomorrow.

Reports cited by MacNN and other blog sites say that Apple will officially kick off iTunes 11 at its iPad Mini event tomorrow.

Apple showed off the latest update to iTunes at its iPhone 5 launch event on September 12, promising that the new version would come sometime in October. So tomorrow does seem a likely candidate.

iTunes 11 offers the latest refresh to the now 12-year-old music player. The interface itself has been redesigned, while iCloud support is now built in. And the new mini … Read more