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Apple iPad 2, packing 3G, arrives in China

Apple began selling version of its iPad 2 with built-in 3G networking in mainland China today, some four months after the Wi-Fi only version made its debut there.

MarketWatch notes that sales of the device began today, both in Apple's online and retail stores, and through authorized resellers in the country. A quick check on Apple's online store in China shows the device as being out of stock (see photo above).

Up until now, customers in the region have only been able to buy the Wi-Fi version of the device through Apple, leading some to pick up gray market 3G models … Read more

Is Apple including 4G TD-LTE for a China Mobile iPhone 5?

According to China Mobile's chairman, Wang Jianzhou, a new 4G TD-LTE-compatible iPhone has already been discussed with Apple and is moving forward. Bloomberg reports the vague confirmation from Jianzhou:

"China Mobile and Apple hope to find a solution for close collaboration. We discussed this issue with Apple. We hope Apple will produce a new iPhone with TD-LTE. We have already got a positive answer from Apple."

Of course this quote is pretty broad, but it appears as though Jianzhou has confirmed that Apple is working with China Mobile to produce a TD-LTE iPhone. It is unknown whether … Read more

Sprint reportedly prepping for iPhone 5

Sprint is said to be preparing to sell the iPhone 5 by setting up new cellular equipment in Apple stores, according to a story in Beatweek Magazine earlier this week.

Citing an anonymous source, Beatweek said that Sprint is installing network repeaters at Apple retail stores to ensure a strong signal so that potential iPhone 5 buyers can test the device on the carrier's cellular network.

The source, who lives in Austin, Texas, is quoted as saying "one thing I can tell you is that the electrical contractor that I work for is contracted to install Sprint 'repeaters' at The Domain. There is a Apple Store at The Domain. One of the 'repeaters' is to be installed INSIDE the Apple Store. There is to be a total of 5 'repeaters' installed. The equipment is CDMA and 4G (Sprint)."

The Apple store located in the Domain is also in Austin, Texas. Sprint uses CDMA for its 3G network, the same as Verizon Wireless. But analysts and other industry watchers have expressed doubts that the next iPhone would be a 4G device, citing Apple's concerns that the technology isn't yet mature. Apple and at least one iPhone carrier have reportedly been testing 4G LTE internally, but an actual 4G iPhone isn't likely to surface until next year.… Read more

The 404 896: Where 'tis a far far better thing doing stuff for other people (podcast)

We have big announcement to make today! At the end of this month, CNET will begin a daily block of live podcasts, starting with The 404! You asked for longer episodes, so we're extending the show to fit in all the news headlines of the day, plus Calls From The Public, more weekly segments, including the return of Tang that Tune, and more!

On today's extracasual episode, we jump into a few stories we weren't able to discuss yesterday, like Apple losing yet another unreleased iPhone prototype, Germany lifting a 17-year ban on Doom 1 and 2, and a Tang That Tune with a surprise ending!

The 404 Digest for Episode 896

Apple loses another unreleased iPhone (exclusive). Doom finally unbanned in Germany. Apple customer accidentally given store hard drive.

Episode 896 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Sprint iPhone brings its share of problems

The enthusiasm over Sprint Nextel possibly getting the iPhone is overblown.

News that Sprint may finally get the iPhone garnered universal praise yesterday, from a pop in Sprint's stock to longtime subscribers cheering at the prospect of finally owning Apple's smash-hit handset. Today, a few analysts have already begun to hit the brakes, noting the potential headaches that may come with the iPhone.

"Sprint iPhone? Be careful what you wish for," William Power, an analyst at Robert W. Baird, said in a research note today.

Sprint will have to deal with higher subsidy costs for the … Read more

Rumor: Carriers testing 4G LTE iPhones

A 4G LTE iPhone is coming. That's the conclusion drawn by Boy Genius Report, which reported this morning that at least one carrier is testing iPhone models with 4G LTE capabilities.

BGR says it has "obtained evidence of an internal iOS test build from one of Apple's major carrier partners, and buried in the firmware is a property list (.plist file) for LTE."

Which partner? BGR doesn't say, but the smart money's on Verizon, the only current iPhone carrier with an active LTE network. (As CNET's Scott Webster reported a few days ago, … Read more

Sprint posts wider loss on bad investments

Sprint Nextel said today it fell further into the red in the second quarter as a result of losses related to bad stock investments.

Sprint also said it lost 101,000 contract subscribers in the period. The company was likely hit by the double whammy of the Apple iPhone being available at both AT&T and Verizon Wireless, while speed freaks who would have gone with Sprint's 4G service were likely drawn to Verizon's faster 4G network.

The Overland Park, Kansas, wireless provider posted a loss of $847 million, or 28 cents a share, compared with a … Read more

Verizon swings to profit on 4G LTE, iPhone strength

Verizon Communications swung to a second-quarter profit as consumers flocked to its speedier 4G service, the carrier said today.

Verizon reported a second-quarter profit of $1.61 billion, or 57 cents a share. A year earlier, the company posted a loss of $1.19 billion, or 42 cents a share due to charges made related to its job cuts. Revenue rose 2.8 percent percent to $27.54 billion.

Wall Street analysts had expected earnings of 55 cents a share on revenue of $27.42 billion, according to a survey taken by Thomson Reuters.

"We view the company's … Read more

Report: The next iPod Touch will have 3G

Rumors about what Apple is doing with its iPod line have been on the quiet side over the past few months, but a new report suggests that the iPod Touch is due for a genuinely exciting upgrade later this year.

Dutch blog AppleSpot.nl claims that Apple's next-generation iPod Touch will sport 3G connectivity, giving people a way to access data while out on the go without needing to find a Wi-Fi hot spot, just like they do on the iPhone.

A translation of the AppleSpot report from a reader on 9to5mac has the source outlet saying it will … Read more

J.P. Morgan analyst talks iCloud, iPhone advances

Huge support from content providers will give Apple's new iCloud service an edge over the competition, while the iPhone 4 will go through a slight revamp this year, followed by a 4G iPhone 5 next year.

Those are some of the thoughts shared by J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz in an investor's note released just ahead of the opening of Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) today.

Apple last week already revealed that it would be talking about iCloud, its new cloud-based service, at WWDC. With news that Apple has already signed up several top record companies … Read more