Apple iPhone 5 'Will Have A Four Inch Screen'

Sources inside Apple's Chinese supplier Foxconn have said that a new iPhone will have a four inch - or larger - screen. Several samples of the device are already under test, says the 'reliable' source, speaking to Apple blog 9to5Mac.

The rumour would lend credibility to the idea that Apple is plotting a summer launch for its new handset. If the company is at the prototype stage already, launch could be very soon.

The final model has not been selected, but all of them are significantly different from the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. None have the 'teardrop' shape that some Apple-watchers predicted for the new model.

'The source said various sample devices are also floating around - they vary slightly from one another - so it is impossible to tell which one will be the final,' said 9to5Mac.

The four-inch screen has been one of the most persistent rumours about Apple's upcoming smartphone - and would make sense, as it would take Apple's flagship device into line with rivals such as Samsung's Galaxy S2.

The relatively modest update last year from iPhone 4 to iPhone 4S means that most Apple-watchers agree that a new model is inevitable - and many point to this summer for a likely launch date.

Sources inside Apple accessory companies also say that iPad 3 will not be an overhaul of the product, with cases and other accessories at the same size as ones for iPad 2.

That would leave the stage clear for a 'big' overhaul of iPhone this summer. At an earnings call this week, chief executive Tim Cook, who replaced Apple founder Steve Jobs hinted at future gadgets, which are rumoured to include a March release of the iPad 3 and a possible iPhone update.

He said:'Apple's momentum is incredibly strong, and we have some amazing new products in the pipeline.'

And the group reported record quarterly revenues of $46.33billion (£29.7 billion), up from $26.74billion (£17.1 billion) a year earlier. The stellar results sent the shares 6 per cent or $27 higher to almost $448 today.

The company has avoided any damage from a clampdown in consumer spending and a surge in competition from smartphone manufacturers and new tablet computers, such as the November launch of Amazon's Kindle Fire

Read More

The Marco Simoncelli Foundation becomes a reality

"The Marco Simoncelli Foundation" began as an idea of Carlo Pernat (Simoncelli’s manager) and was immediately embraced by the Simoncelli family, who worked quickly to make the foundation a legal reality.

"We completed all of the paperwork in a very short time," said Paolo Simoncelli, "and we are ready to start work." The president of the foundation will be Marco’s mother Rossella, while Paolo Simoncelli’s sister Martina and Dr. Arnaldo Cappellini will sit on the board of directors. Sister Martina and girlfriend Kate, with assistance from Carlo Pernat and Paolo Beltramo (Mediaset MotoGP journalist and friend) will offer their assistance.

"We already have several initiatives underway. For example, on January 20 an event titled 'Happy Birthday Sic' will be held at the 105 Stadium in Rimini, an evening designed for fun as my son would have liked. There will be comedians from the TV show Zelig on stage and many of Simoncelli’s friends from the GP paddock are also expected to show up. We are also working on an exhibition dedicated to Marco in the City of Coriano, managed directly by the Foundation. We are just getting started and we're surrounded by positivity that was so typical of Marco, positivity that affected everyone around him and made him an extraordinary person."

"The basic premise of the Foundation," explained Paolo Simoncelli, "is that through keeping the memory of Marco alive we can help alleviate suffering of those who are worse off than us. It is hard for me to say where and how the funds raised will be distributed, since I cannot assess how much we will have available as time goes by. One thing is certain; I will try and manage all this as a good father."

"We received a huge number of messages of affection for Marco" added Paolo Simoncelli, "and this has helped and continues to help us overcome the difficult times that we live with daily. Seeing how many people loved our son has helped us go on and we believe that ‘The Marco Simoncelli Foundation’ represents the best way to remember him in the future."

Read More

Repsol names Moto3 riders, aims for all three titles in 2012

Repsol has announced it will back Alex Rins and Miguel Oliveira in the new Moto3 World Championship - and is thus aiming to win riders' world titles in all three grand prix classes next year.

Repsol, which has more than 40 years of experience in sport sponsorship, won this year's MotoGP title with Honda's Casey Stoner and finished a close runner-up in the Moto2 class with Suter rider Marc Marquez.

Both Stoner and Marquez will remain in Repsol colours for 2012, as will Stoner's MotoGP team-mate Dani Pedrosa (fourth this season with three wins).

Repsol's Moto3 hopes will be in the hands of two 16-year-olds, but both Rins and Oliveira are highly rated.

Rookie Rins is the reigning Spanish (CEV) 125cc champion, while Oliveira already has 11 grand prix starts under his belt and won the last two CEV races using a 250cc four-stroke Moto3 bike for the Monlau Competición Team.

Repsol has also announced that Alex Marquez, younger brother of Marc and runner-up in the 2011 CEV 125cc title to team-mate Rins, will enter 'some races' as a wild-card in 2012.

This will be combined with a full title assault in the CEV Moto3 series.

The last time Repsol participated in the smallest (125cc) class of grand prix motorcycling was in 2010, when the team won the championship with Marc Marquez.

Read More

Dovizioso undergoes collarbone surgery

Andrea Dovizioso is beginning along the road to recovery after undergoing a successful surgery on his broken collarbone.

The Italian, who injured himself during a Motocross training accident, took to his Twitter account after going under the knife, stating, “After about 1 hour under surgery I am like new!”

Dovizioso now has just over three weeks to make a full recovery before pre-season MotoGP testing gets underway at Sepang on January 31st, the Italian riding for new employer's Tech 3 Yamaha.

However, while doctors have urged Dovizioso to be careful with the injury, his team manager Herve Poncharal is confident that he will be back to his best by the time he gets aboard the YZR-M1.

Read More

Valentino Rossi wins on ice as Wrooom 2012 ends

Ducati MotoGP star Valentino Rossi beat Ferrari F1 drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa in a kart race on ice as Wrooom 2012 came to a close on Friday evening at Madonna di Campiglio, Italy.

Rossi - who suffered his first winless grand prix season in 2011 - began the kart race from pole and went on to take victory ahead of Massa, with Alonso recovering to third after an early crash.

Massa then restored some F1 pride by getting the better of seven time MotoGP champion Rossi in the following Fiat 500 car race, in which double Formula One champion Alonso was again third.

“It was really fantastic,” said Rossi. “I practice a lot with karts in the summer, and it was great to drive on the ice, especially because it was much colder this time than it was last year, so the track held up well. Felipe was faster than I was, but anyway, it was a great night. I enjoyed myself.”

Ferrari test drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Marc Gene, plus Rossi's sidekick Uccio also took part in the exhibition races.

Rossi's team-mate Nicky Hayden was unable to race due to his recent shoulder and rib injuries.

The 2012 Ducati Desmosedici, which was not seen at this week's press event, will now undergo a shakedown test before being handed to Rossi and Hayden for the start of the Sepang test on January 31.

Read More

Thai-Korean festival

Those wishing to learn more about Korean culture are invited to the "Thailand-Korea Friendship Festival 2011: Together for Flood Victims", which will take place in front of CentralWorld from tomorrow until Sunday, December 25

Organised by the embassy of the Republic of Korea and the Department of Cultural Promotion to enhance the relationship between Thailand and Korea and to raise funds to help flood victims, the three-day festival is packed with a programme of cultural performances and fun activities from both sides.

The highlights include a Thai long-drum dance by Ekkatan Troupe, a Korean musical Miso (Beautiful Smile), the "Hero" drawing exhibition, the "Black Leopard" taekwondo show, a cooking show by Olivia Lee, and a cover dance show by Thai youths.

This is also a chance for Thai fans of Korean stars to bid for their favourite belongings. The items include sweaters and T-shirts from Lee Min Ho; a wristwatch, T-shirt and a photo book from Cho Hyun Jae; a belt and sunglasses from Yoon Tae Young; sneakers from Han Chae Young; a T-shirt from Lee Byung Hyun, jeans from Kim Rae Won, and a wallet from Han Hyo Ju.

Other activities include a taekwondo dance contest for kids, a photo contest, and sales of K-pop collectibles and Thai and Korean foods.

Read More

Adam Lambert says 'lesson learned' after arrest

Former American Idol finalist Adam Lambert brushed off his arrest in Finland last Thursday, blaming his bad behaviour on travel, booze and ''irrational confusion'' and adding ''lesson learned'' on Twitter.

''Jetlag+Vodka=blackout. Usblackout=irrational confusion. jail+guilt+press=lesson learned. Sauli+Adam+hangover burgers= laughing bout it. :),'' Lambert tweeted to fans.

The Whataya Want From Me singer, 29, was involved in an argument in a Helsinki bar with his boyfriend, Finnish reality TV star Sauli Koskinen. Their quarrel became physical and the pair were arrested, questioned then later released by authorities, according to media reports.

Koskinen also addressed the incident on his blog, writing in Finnish, ''publicity is not easy. But celebrities are only human people''.

Lambert, whose colourful costumes and make-up earned him the nickname ''Glambert'', rose to fame in 2009 on US singing contest American Idol, but lost in the final round of the US's No.1-rated TV show to Kris Allen.

Despite being the runner-up, Lambert forged a solid career and now enjoys a loyal following as a singer. His single Better Than I Know Myself was released last Tuesday, and is currently at No.30 on the iTunes singles chart. _ Piya Sinha-Roy

Read More

Archive