Rumors

Editors' note: This piece was originally posted on January 24, 2013. We'll continuously update the roundup until the device's official launch. Until then, be sure to join us live on March 14 during Samsung's Global Unpacked Event, and please let us know if we missed any rumors ourselves.

Considering the popularity and success of the Samsung Galaxy S3, it's understandable that whispers of its successor (presumably called the Galaxy S4) are circulating. From iffy launch dates to spec upgrades, CNET tracks all the talk and rounds up the latest GS4 rumors here.

March 13, 2013 Bloomberg thinks eye-scrolling's a no-go If you're about ready to throw a parade about the rumored eye-scrolling technology in the GS4, Bloomberg's just as ready to rain on it. According to sources "familiar with the device," the handset will have no such thing. At best, it'll have some simple eye-tracking technology, like pausing a video when your eyes move away from the display. At worst it'll show up in future devices. Talk about being a negative Ninny, Bloomberg.… Read more

An iPhone trademark dispute between Apple and Brazilian telcomm firm IGB Eletronica could be one step closer to a resolution.

Both companies have reportedly decided to settle their legal skirmish and reach a peaceable agreement, says Brazilian news site Folha de Sao Paulo as cited by Forbes.

Lawyers for the two companies had filed a court document late last month asking that any legal action be suspended for 30 days as the two sides try to settle the matter, according to Folha de Sao Paulo.

In December, IGB Eletronica unveiled a lineup of devices branded IPHONE, claiming it has had exclusive rights to the name … Read more

Freshly leaked details for an upcoming HTC Myst seem to confirm rumors of a new "Facebook phone."

Specifications obtained by Unwired View line up nicely with previous chatter for the so-called Facebook smartphone. Reportedly, HTC and AT&T will again collaborate on an Android smartphone targeted at Facebook addicts. It's still unclear, however, how soon such a device would arrive on store shelves.

Hardware details for the HTC Myst apparently include a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 1GB RAM, and 16GB of internal storage. Additionally, the handset could feature a 4.3-inch 720p HD display, a … Read more

Owners of the iPhone 5S or Galaxy S4 will be able to charge their phones wirelessly, claim the folks at DigiTimes.

Based on "industry sources," Taiwan-based DigiTimes said today that the next-generation iPhone will use wireless charging technology developed by Apple. But the sources couldn't say whether the phone would be built with the wireless charging feature or rely on an attached accessory.

Samsung's Galaxy S4 is expected to support the Qi wireless charging technology, which already is used by Nokia and other mobile vendors. The S4 may not include the capability itself but instead require … Read more

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S4 will offer a Smart Scroll feature, at least according to a series of screenshots leaked by blog site Sammobile.

Images posted on the site show a settings screen for Smart Scroll, a feature that allows users to scroll through the screen and perform certain tasks merely by moving their eyes up and down.

Citing information from a person who has used the yet-to-be-announced phone, the New York Times reported on Monday that Smart Scroll would be built into the S4. The feature would monitor the movement of users' eyes and move the screen accordingly. As … Read more

I've lived with a smartwatch, in one form or another, for several periods over the past few years. Recently, with the Martian Passport. Further back, with the iPod Nano and a Hex wristband. Before that, a SPOT watch.

I love the idea of a smartwatch. Certainly, so does the media as of late. Bloomberg reports and iWatch rumors galore, plus various wearable watch-type items at January's CES, have started to give this territory the sense of a category.

Between the Martian and the Nano watch, I loved aspects of each -- and also found them both lacking. There'… Read more

Verizon Wireless may be the first U.S. carrier to offer one of LG's brand-spankin'-new Optimus F5 Android smarphones.

According to a set of alleged press photos obtained by UnwiredView, Verizon will carry the Optimus F5 as a followup to the LG Lucid. Introduced just last week at Mobile World Congress, the LG Optimus F5 features a 4.3-inch qHD display, a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 1GB RAM, and 8GB internal storage. The handset, powered by Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, will likely be priced low to attract new smartphone buyers.

Reportedly, Verizon will announce the … Read more

The iPhone and iPad rumor mill continues to heat up.

Apple is reportedly prepping the iPhone 5S for a summer release, mostly likely in August, "sources familiar with the plans" told blog site iMore. The next iPhone would sport the same design as its predecessor but with a beefier processor and better camera.

People awaiting a new iPad could get some satisfaction as early as next month, according to the sources.

An "April-ish" launch for the next-generation iPads, most likely the iPad 5 and the iPad Mini 2, is seriously being considered by Apple. From that … Read more

Microsoft's Surface tablet may surface in Japan as early as next month, according to a story from the Nikkei news service, as reported by the Wall Street Journal's MarketWatch.

A Microsoft spokeswoman confirmed to CNET that Surface will reach Japan in the near future but didn't specify a launch date.

"As part of our phased approach to Surface availability, Surface will be coming to Japan in the near future," the rep said, promising to provide more details soon.

Microsoft is expected to sell the Surface RT edition to Japanese consumers. That version can run certain … Read more