DigiTimes is reporting that Apple is working with component suppliers to start production of the new iMac by July end and an official launch around October. Aaron Lee posted in DigiTimes:

Apple's supply chain reportedly will start supplying components for the mass production of Apple's upcoming new iMac all-in-one PC in July with the device's official launch possibly around October, according to sources from upstream supply chain.

The sources also noted that Apple plans to expand Retina Display into all the product lines, meaning that the new iMac will have a high chance of featuring Retina Display; however, the rumors are not confirmed by Apple.

The sources pointed out that Apple is pushing Retina Display for its products in hoping to surpass its competitors in terms of screen resolution since most other notebook and tablet PC vendors are still adopting Full HD display for their products; however, since there are only limited contents that are capable of supporting Retina Display, while Retina Display is a lot expensive than a Full HD panel, most PC vendors currently still have no plan to follow suit and launch product with high resolution panel.

We have also heard similar plans for iMac launch. However, our sources say that Apple will start shipping the new iMac before Q3 2012. New iMac production ramp up will begin in August with manufacturing reaching full capacity by October end to meet holiday demand.

Verizon has announced that the new DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE from HTC will be available in stores and online starting July 5th. The Android 4.0 based handset features HTC sense 4 UI and 4G LTE support. Main features of the new handset are:

• 4-inch super LCD qHD display
• 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus, LED flash, BSI, f/2.2 and 28 mm lens
• Front-facing camera for video chatting with friends and family
• 1.2 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor
• Mobile Hotspot-capable to share a 4G LTE connection with up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices
• Support for up to 32 GB microSD memory card

The DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE by HTC will be available beginning July 5 in Verizon Stores and on Verizon’s website for 149.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.

Mozilla today confirmed details about their upcoming open source mobile operating system aimed at lower end smartphone market. The OS will use Mozilla’s Firefox brand and will support HTML 5 applications. Operators like Deutsche Telekom, Etisalat, Smart, Sprint, Telecom Italia, Telefonica and Telenor will partner up with Mozilla to launch the new Firefox OS.

Also, device manufacturers TCL Communication Technology (under the Alcatel One Touch brand) and ZTE today announced their intentions to manufacture the first devices to feature the new Firefox OS, using Snapdragon(TM) processors from Qualcomm.

The Firefox OS for mobile devices is built on Mozilla's "Boot to Gecko project" which unlocks many of the current limitations of web development on mobile, allowing HTML5 applications to access the underlying capabilities of a phone, previously only available to native applications. Telefonica's Digital unit joined forces with Mozilla earlier this year to take this work and showcase a new phone architecture where every phone feature (calling, messaging, games, etc.) is an HTML5 application.

The first Firefox OS powered devices are expected to launch commercially in Brazil in early 2013 through Telefonica's commercial brand, Vivo.

Sony today introduced two new superfast S-Series memory cards – the 64GB QD-S64 and 32GB QD-S32 featuring PCI Express Gen interface, which allows these cards to read and write at 168MB/s making them the world’s fastest memory card.

Sony says that the new memory cards could transfer 32GB data in about 3.8 minutes and its designed for HD video and high-resolution photographers. According to SlashGear, it also means photographers would be able to shoot multiple frames in continuous shooting mode without hitting data transfer wall. Sony tested the new card with Nikon D4 DSLR camera and was able to shoot 108 shots in just ten seconds.

Sony XQD S-Series memory cards will go on sale in Japan on July 11th, priced 40,000 yen (about $500) for 32GB model and 60,000 yen (about $750) for 64GB model.

Google launched their first Nexus branded tablet on June 27th, featuring 7-inch 1280 x 800 display, quad-core Tegra 3 chipset, 1.2-megapixel front camera, 1GB RAM, 8 or 16GB storage, WiFi, Bluetooth, Micro USB and 9 hours battery life. The Nexus 7 tablet comes with Google’s new Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) operating system and NFC support. Nexus 7 will ship in July priced $199 for 8GB model and $249 for 16GB model.

Reviews of the new tablet from Google have been largely positive calling it the best Android tablet available on the market because of both its lower price point and the new Android 4.1 OS. However, as almost every reviewer points out that even though Nexus 7 is the best Android tablet, it’s still behind Apple’s iPad. But if you are looking for a tablet below $300 price point this is the tablet to go for right now, as Nexus 7 is much better than Amazon’s Kindle Fire.

Chris Burns wrote on SlashGear “With the iPad and the Amazon Kindle Fire being this device’s biggest competitors, you’ll want to know: which one is worth buying? There’s no perfect answer, but if I had a choice between the three and would get the chosen product for free, I’d of course pick the iPad – it costs more than 2 times this device’s base price for a reason. If I had to choose between the Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire, I’d not think twice about picking the Google product. Every single feature on this tablet, unless you’re an Amazon junkie, is better than the Fire.”

Below we have added links to best Google Nexus 7 reviews available online:

• The Verge – Review By: Joshua Topolsky
• SlashGear – Review By: Chris Burns
• Engadget – Review By: Tim Stevens
• CNET – Review By: Eric Franklin
• Daily News – Review By: Matt Warman
• Technology Review – Review By: Rachel Metz
• PC Mag – Review By: Sascha Segan
• Laptop Mag – Review By: Avram Piltch

Since Apple showed the PassBook app at WWDC on June 11th, everyone has been talking about iPhone getting NFC (Near Filed Communication) support for payment processing and ticketing. However, there hasn’t been any concrete evidence till now supporting these NFC talks. But that has changed today, as 9to5mac claims that the hardware code dump from preEVT iPhone 5,1 and iPhone 5,2 prototypes codenamed N41AP (5,1) and N42AP (5,2), which revealed few weeks back that the next generation iPhone will have bigger display also has code for NFC controllers and antenna. Seth Weintraub wrote:

Further investigation into this hardware code dump leads us to believe that these iPhones also have Near Field Communication (NFC) controllers directly connected to the power management unit (PMU).

The implications here are obviously monstrous. With the recently announced PassBook application (which we detailed prior to its announcement while speculating about an NFC tie-in), Apple will be set to compete with Google Wallet and the similar service Microsoft unveiled last week. Apple could tie in with a payment processor like Citibank’s PayPass system for credit card transactions or it could become a payment processor of sorts with its hundreds of millions of credit cards already on file at iTunes.

It has been rumored for past two years that iPhone will get NFC support and the rumors were really strong before iPhone 4S was launched last year. NFC is a technology that can bring many other functionalities like file sharing, authenticated pairing of devices and not just payment processing. And for the first time the technology looks ready enough for Apple to use in their devices. Will it be in iPhone 5? That is a question only Apple can answer.

Commenting on yesterday’s news that Apple’s new iPhone will have 19-pin mini dock, Robert Scoble revealed few more detail about the new dock design. Robert learnt from an Engineering working in the phone world that Apple is making this change for the following reasons:

1. To control device manufacturers much more completely. It will be nearly impossible to make unlicensed devices, if Apple wants it, and totally impossible to make replacement power supplies that Apple hasn't approved (there is a chip in both ends of the new power supply that ensure that it is an official device).
2. To make thinner devices possible.
3. To make water damage less of a possibility on new devices.
4. To bring us a magnetic connector that's more durable and easier to dock than the existing one. Especially important as more car manufacturers add docks for iPhones into cars (yet another way to encourage people to buy Apple devices rather than devices from other manufacturers).
5. This new connector will leave more room for array microphones on the bottom of the iPhone, which could enable even better sound quality.

It has been rumored for past one year that Apple will replace the 30-pin dock used by all iOS devices for charging and syncing with a smaller “Mini” dock. And since the images of iPhone 5 back cover have leaked this mini dock rumor have gotten even stronger. Today, TechCrunch posted they have confirmed from various sources that Apple will indeed use a smaller 19-Pin “Mini” connector. John Biggs wrote on TechCrunch:

Although the form factor and actual size are still unknown, TechCrunch has independently verified that Apple is working on adding a 19-pin port, replacing the current 30-pin port, to the new iPhone. It is a move that will surly send shocks through the iPhone accessory ecosystem.

The new port is similar in size to the Thunderbolt port available on many MacBook devices but I’ve been told by three independent manufacturers that the pin-out will be different.

Microsoft today announced their new Windows Phone 8 operating system for mobile phones. The new OS is based on Windows 8 core, meaning it will share common networking, security, media and web browser technology, and a common file system with Windows 8. This also means that current Windows Phone 7 users won’t be able to upgrade to Windows Phone 8.

Some of the key features of Windows Phone 8 that Microsoft highlighted are:

• Multi-core processor support: As reviewers have noted, Windows Phone runs buttery smooth on phones with a single processor. But piggybacking on the Windows core provides support for multiple cores—so we’re ready for whatever hardware makers dream up.
• Bigger, sharper screens: Windows Phone 8 supports two new screen resolutions—1280x768 and 1280x720, opening the door to amazing new handsets with high-definition 720p displays.
• More flexible storage: Windows Phone 8 supports removable MicroSD cards, so you can stuff your phone with extra photos, music, and whatever else is important to you, and then easily move it all onto your PC.
• NFC wireless sharing: If you haven’t heard the term “NFC” yet, I’m betting you soon will. This emerging wireless technology lets phones share things over short distances. In Windows Phone 8, it helps make sharing photos, Office docs, and contact info easier—just tap your phone another NFC-equipped device. How cool is that?
• Internet Explorer 10: The next version of Windows Phone comes with the same web browsing engine that’s headed for Window 8 PCs and tablets. IE10 is faster and more secure, with advanced anti-phishing features like SmartScreen Filter to block dangerous websites and malware.
• Wallet: Windows Phone 8’s new digital Wallet feature does two great things. It can keep debit and credit cards, coupons, boarding passes, and other important info right at your fingertips. And when paired with a secure SIM from your carrier, you can also pay for things with a tap of your phone at compatible checkout counters.
• Better maps and directions: Windows Phone 8 builds in Nokia mapping as part of the platform. Our partnership will provide more detailed maps and turn-by-turn directions in many countries, plus the ability to store maps offline on your phone so you can work with maps without a data connection.
• Cooler apps and games: Basing Windows Phone 8 on the Windows core will unleash a new wave of amazing apps and especially games, for reasons I’ll touch on in a moment.

Windows Phone 8 will ship this fall and devices based on the new OS should come to the market by end of this year. Check out the introductory video of Windows Phone 8 below.

In an interview with China Times Hon Hai (Foxconn) Chairman Terry Gou talked about Hon Hai – Sharp alliance and how it will be important in keeping ahead of Samsung in TV business. While talking about upcoming TV plant at Foxconn, he also asked consumers to wait and see the new iPhone 5 by Apple that will be way ahead of recently launched Galaxy S III. Foxconn is Apple’s manufacturing partner for iPhone and iPad lineup and hence Gou’s statements have lot of weight. Gou said the following to China Times:

Gou also urged consumers to wait for the launch of Apple's iPhone 5, saying that the new model will put Samsung's Galaxy III to shame.

With Hon Hai's marketing and manufacturing strengths and Sharp's key technologies, the two will be able to defeat their arch-rival Samsung, the chairman said.

This would indicate that Apple might be finally able to use the long rumored IGZO LCD display from Sharp in upcoming iPhone. Sharp started mass production of the new displays in March and said that it will have full capacity by summer this year, which would be in time for iPhone 5 launch. [Via Focus Taiwan]